As an ELL teacher at Turner Elementary School, Lexcee Oddo creates a learning environment where multilingual learners are empowered to grow in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. She creates an environment where high expectations, individualized support and a deep sense of purpose drive student success.
Oddo uses ongoing formative assessments to tailor instruction and provide interventions in real time, and plans lessons for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) paraprofessionals. Her culture of joy and collective efficacy has led to consistent student progress. Before assuming her role this school year, Oddo was a second grade teacher, helping her students meet and exceed growth expectations in reading and math, with many achieving more than a year’s worth of academic gains.
Oddo is a proud member of the school’s leadership team, whose roles—among many—include supporting the school improvement plan, implementing professional development and guiding committee meetings. Always on the pulse of effective best practices, she supports colleagues through mentorship, coaching, and instructional modeling, and serves as a first-year “buddy” for new teachers. At the district level, she co-leads a cohort on curriculum implementation—equipping staff with tools and strategies to enhance student learning and engagement. Additionally, she is one of two teacher trainers on the science of reading.
Dedicated to school families, Oddo regularly involves parents in her classroom, coordinates family engagement events, and attracts a 100% attendance rate for parent-teacher conferences. Oddo is a whole-brain teacher who values the academic strengths and social-emotional development of every student. She hosts student recognition assemblies and leads an after-school tutoring program that has led to every student meeting Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) goals.
Oddo earned a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education from Kansas State University in 2018 and a Master of Science in education administration from Emporia State University in 2023.
Press Release: Kansas City Teacher Lexcee Oddo Stunned: She is the Nation’s Next Milken Educator!
