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INVERNESS – Katy Patilla sums up her 25-year tenure at Odyssey Early School at Inverness in one word: rewarding.

“It’s exciting to see successful young men and women that I taught at Odyssey,” Patilla said. “At Odyssey, my coworkers have become part of my family. I wouldn’t trade the relationships I have made with parents over the years. Many of them I still keep in touch with.”

Patilla has been an Infant teacher at the school since she started and said she wouldn’t want to do anything else.

“I love to talk to the babies and make them smile or laugh,” she said. “There is nothing better.”

According to Patilla, defining a “normal” day at Odyssey is difficult because every day is different.

“We spend the day making sure each child’s individual needs are meet, as well as singing, reading books and doing art,” she said.

But there are definite highlights during the year, such as Christmastime.

“Christmas is fun at Odyssey,” Patilla said. “Every year we make ornaments for the Odyssey Christmas tree. I love to see the building decorated for Christmas and all the fun things the children make.”

Patilla also recalls memories such as getting stuck in the ice storm of 2014, walking to get pizza and helping families who were stuck.

Patilla said she missed her babies during the two-month COVID-19 school closure, but she hopes everyone can stay healthy going into the next school year.