Odyssey's Head of School, Marty Sweeney, Announces Her Retirement After 23 Years of Service

A letter from Marty Sweeney, Head of School

Dear Odyssey Community,

I am writing to inform you of my decision to make the 2024-2025 school year my final year serving as the Head of The Odyssey School. I plan to retire on June 30th to enjoy greater time with my family and friends. It is here at Odyssey where I have spent the majority of my years in professional life and here where I have found the greatest of joys, opportunities, and heartfelt rewards. I love this School so very much.

From my first days as an Odyssey team member, I was greeted with warmth and open arms. I experienced how joy is an important part of daily classroom and community life. To this day, welcoming the children to Odyssey, watching them grow, and learning of their life after Odyssey successes are the ultimate gifts of my Odyssey journey.

It has been the utmost honor to work alongside dynamic and dedicated educators and staff, strong and talented administrators, and Trustees who apply method and care to all that they bring to this gem of a School. I have had the privilege of working in a school that is built to look like a home in which every child is known as a person of promise. It is the wonderful relationships with my colleagues, and the families and friends of the school that has infused positive energy into every challenge and every reward. The School has consistently been centered on the needs of the students even when needing to modify the shape of the school day during the pandemic.

The greatest of delights is to have the privilege of watching our students grow and to see how skill and strategy development in a learning environment filled with loving care drives positive change and lasting impacts. To sit on the stage at graduation remembering the first day each graduate walked through the front door and to have witnessed their transformation is remarkable.

From my time as a speech language pathologist serving individual students back at the School’s first home on Roland Avenue in 1996, to my time as lower school head, academic dean, and then interim head of school, I never planned or aspired to be the Head of School. Gordon Jones, “Mr. Odyssey,” ignited my passion for the School and recognized how my work in language and literacy aligned seamlessly with the School’s mission.  In addition, it has been the friends, the leaders, and the lovers of this school that have inspired me to serve in this role and to continue to do so for 17 years. It is the depth of relationships, the support of many, and the firsthand witness of all that this school can do in the lives of children that has found me bounding out of bed in the morning and onto the front porch for greetings. From its earliest beginnings back in 1994, fueled by the courage of 8 founding families, this school has evolved into a nationally recognized school for students with dyslexia. We have families who move thousands of miles to seek out an Odyssey education. 

There are many more people for me to thank than I have accomplishments. Everything that has happened over these years to establish this School’s stellar reputation has been the result of the energies, ideas, and dedication of many. The School’s strength, rooted in its commitment to its mission and the foundation in specialized instruction, character education, opportunities to explore one’s passions and interests and to develop self-awareness and self-advocacy skills, is clear. Every step to refine and to excel is the result of the kindness, honesty, respect and hard work of us all.

Over the course of my headship, I have been blessed with the support of the incredible Board leadership of John Linehan, Abby Smith, Diana Boyce, Chris Pope, Patrick Crain, and Suzy Riedel.  I am grateful for the support they have shown and the trust they have placed in me.  I am confident that Suzy, with the support of our amazing trustees and leadership team, is the perfect individual to steward Odyssey through its next steps.
When I retire on June 30th, it will be so very difficult for me to say goodbye, but I am certain that it is time. We can all trust in the team of professionals who choose to give of their talents, energies, and expertise to Odyssey. We can trust that, at Odyssey, we know what we are doing, and we are doing it well. Our teachers are our greatest resource and the successes of our alumni our greatest proof that what begins here truly changes everything.

As we move forward, please be reminded that change and freshness is good. The School is in a position of exceptional strength in its leadership team, evidence-based programs, and extraordinary teachers equipped with a depth of experience and expertise.  We will be celebrating Odyssey’s 30th birthday all year long, and there is so much to look forward to in the years that come. We are Odyssey and we can count on that.

With gratitude and love,
Marty Sweeney

Dear Odyssey Community,
 
I hope this message finds you well.
 
It is with a mix of gratitude and sadness that I write to inform you of the upcoming retirement of our esteemed Head of School, Marty Sweeney, at the conclusion of this academic year. After 23 years of dedicated service to The Odyssey School, Marty has decided to step down and embrace a well-deserved retirement.
 
Throughout her tenure, Marty has been a visionary leader, fostering a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and innovation that has profoundly shaped our school community. Under her guidance, The Odyssey School has flourished in numerous ways while embodying the four pillars. Some of her many achievements include strengthening our academic programs, advancing professional development for teachers, expanding our outreach efforts, navigating the challenges of COVID-19, and spearheading an $18 million capital campaign.
 
Beyond these tangible accomplishments, Marty has profoundly touched the lives of countless students, parents, faculty, and staff with her compassion, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to the success of every individual within our community. She has led with integrity and heart, making The Odyssey School not just a place of learning, but a true home for so many of us.
 
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to extend our deepest appreciation to Marty for her extraordinary contributions. We are immensely grateful for the lasting legacy she will leave behind and she will be greatly missed!
 
As we begin the process of identifying our next Head of School, the Board has initiated a comprehensive search to ensure that we find a leader who will continue to advance the mission and values at the heart of The Odyssey School. We will keep you informed throughout this process and insure you are updated as we move forward.
 
This transition is one that we are approaching calmly and thoughtfully. Marty will leave The Odyssey School with a gifted and motivated faculty, a robust and experienced leadership team and in its strongest financial position. Her success is deeply intertwined with the success of our school, especially in our mission to support children with language based learning differences.
 
In the meantime, we will plan a series of events to celebrate Marty and provide opportunities for our community to express our appreciation and best wishes. We look forward to coming together to honor her in the months ahead.
 
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to The Odyssey School. We are confident that together we will navigate this transition with the same strength and unity that define our community.
 
Warm regards,
 
Suzanne Riedel
Chair, Board of Trustees
The Odyssey School