A Message of Gratitude from Dr. Otey

My mother has a lovely singing voice, and she is an exceptional pianist. At almost 80 years old, she still plays piano and sings daily. I grew up with music in the house. My dad had a rich Elvis-like baritone voice, and he would hit the low notes when singing the 4-part harmonies. 

Growing up in rural Appalachia, there weren’t any luxuries, but there were so many gifts and blessings. A song Mom would sing often was called “Count Your Blessings.” She would emphatically and a little mockingly sing it in my face when I would ask for a gift that was too expensive or when I would complain about a situation that made me unhappy or uncomfortable.

Every year around Thanksgiving, I find myself recalling that melody and singing that phrase: Count your blessings. 

As we recall the last few months here at Out-of-Door, we may be quick to remember the devastation, the inconvenience, the discomfort, the thwarted plans. This would not have been the fall that we dreamed would highlight our 100th year. 

However, when I look back at our resilient history and the ODA heroes who made our school what it is today, it seems only fitting that we also now have our own historic and heroic mark to add to the ODA story. This viewpoint shines the light on the blessings that have been flowing in abundance over the last three months. I’ll share some from my list.

Dedicated Educators: Whether teaching Pre-K or Grade 12, Physical Education or Physics, our educators continued doing the work they love: teaching and supporting students. Many educators, while managing personal losses and disruptions, prioritized their students by sharing spaces, altering plans, and moving their entire vocational foundation in just days. Meanwhile, our non-teaching educators worked tirelessly, often around the clock, on weekends, and even through Fall Break (at one point, 25 days straight) to create spaces, systems, and communications that ensured student learning could thrive. This extraordinary level of commitment from all corners of the school is a profound blessing and a testament to a dedication that I’ve rarely witnessed in my 30+ years in education.

Supportive and Encouraging Families: We have received overwhelmingly kind and generous emails, gifts, smiles, and even hugs from our ODA families this fall. When asked to help support our families who were in need, the community stepped up and filled sign-up genius slots in record-breaking time. Meals were shared, gift cards distributed, water donated, and the list continues. There were both blessings of action and blessings of sentiment, but all warmed the hearts of a community working through an unexpected and challenging time. The spirit and values of ODA rang strong. 

Joyful Students: Laughter is good medicine, and our students have radiated joy throughout this unprecedented time of change and adaptation. The students have been our lighthouse during the storms of the fall. They represent hope and resilience, grace and laughter when we adults can sometimes give more credence to inconvenience and discomfort. In fact, there’s nothing more stabilizing than being caught off guard by a herd of 3-foot-tall huggers, a middle school Academy Award comedic performance, or a belly-laugh-level connection with teenagers. 

Although these are only a few of mine, I hope you have time to recall your own moments of special favor, mercy, or benefit as we journey into this Thanksgiving week. May your blessings, like mine, be too many to count.