Casey O’Dell holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with Pedagogy Emphasis from Samford University, studying under Dr. Betty Sue Shepherd. She began student teaching for the Academy (then called the Samford University Preparatory Department) in 2003 and continued after she graduated, until 2013, when she took some time off to be a full time mom. She joined the Academy once again in the spring of 2020. Through her years with the Academy, she has taught private piano lessons, theory classes, preschool piano and general music classes, in addition to teaching each summer at Adventures in Music Camp. She was also a preschool music teacher for 5 years at the Early Arts Center in Homewood, and led a bi-weekly music class at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest for 2 years. In addition to teaching piano lessons at the Academy, Casey also currently substitute teaches in the Vestavia Hills City School system and is the Worship Assistant at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where she leads children’s music and serves as the choral accompanist. Casey started taking piano in the Preparatory Department from fellow teacher, Alice Butler, when she was 9 years old, later continued under director, Connie Macon and is THRILLED to be back working in the program which feels like home to her!