When I was growing up, not many people knew about my culture or religion, but they were curious. My family was the only Muslim family in the entire elementary school, possibly even middle school, and there were a handful in a high school of 2,000 students. To help build connections with our community, my mom sometimes cooked lunch for all the teachers at the elementary school, and I would get to eat lunch in the teacher’s lounge. It was my mom’s way of developing cultural understanding with the teachers, and it made me feel special rather than just different. My mom’s proactive approach to educating others with kindness led me down the same path. I want to make sure all students feel comfortable and confident, so they can focus on learning.

I enjoyed sharing my stories with my peers and teachers, from first grade through college. Now, I give public speeches and share my stories with my community and friends. I believe that having empathy helps one understand others’ perspectives, or at least ignites the desire to learn, which creates room for understanding and finding something that connects us all. I strongly support Granville’s “Portrait of a Graduate” and would be honored to serve on the Granville School Board to help ensure all students are able to meet those goals of being “collaborative, critical thinkers, empathetic, adaptable, responsible, and resilient.”

As a member of the Granville School Board, my priorities would be:

• To make sure the policies and practices are in line to support the school’s Portrait of a Graduate.
• To promote empathy and cultural competence to prepare students for a globalized world.
• To advocate for an increase in physical activity, and outdoor time in grades K-6.

Bio:

I am a mother of three boys, a potter, and a public speaker. My husband and I bought our first home in Granville in 2009, and have enjoyed being active members of the community for the past 12 years. I currently serve on the Granville Township Land Management Committee, and have formerly served on the board of the Granville Parent Cooperative Preschool. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Philosophy, and a Master’s degree in International and Comparative Politics, where I learned the art of diplomacy and negotiation. I have a passion for learning and a yearning for peace. I strive to find common ground with people, and work well with others, which has prepared me to serve our community. My family loves nature, so we spend a lot of time outdoors. I enjoy hiking, creating art, cooking, reading, writing, logic/board/trivia games, and having family movie nights.

To follow my campaign, please click the Facebook icon below.

Paid for by Friends of Rana Odeh