Inez Merlyn Odom (right) and Head of School Gary Krahn record an episode of the Roots and Wings: Voices of Independent Schools podcast. Photo by Rachel Baxter
For the past 10 years, Inez Merlyn Odom, assistant head of school for enrollment management and outreach at La Jolla Country Day School (CA), has been fielding the same questions from current and prospective families. Many of these questions are worthy of deeper discussion and exploration, so she decided to build a podcast series around them.
“Creating a podcast seemed like the perfect mechanism to provide thoughtful, in-depth conversations concerning some of the more detailed areas of independent school life,” says Odom, who created and hosts Roots and Wings: Voices of Independent Schools podcast.
Beginning in June 2018 and with 10 episodes as of press time, the podcast has covered many topics, including testing and assessments, the admission process, the lessons of athletics in the life of a student, and kindergarten readiness. Some of the guests have included the school’s head and board chair, and a founding member of the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals. One of the most popular episodes so far has been “The Role of the Board of Trustees and the History of La Jolla Country Day School.”
The school has received positive feedback from current parents, alumni, and prospective families. “Prospective families have deeply valued the chance to learn more about who we are and why we do what we do,” Odom says. “In much the same way that families will peruse a website, a podcast is a way to engage and learn more on your own schedule.”
The series is available through iTunes, Spotify, and the school’s website. Staff also send episodes to parents who express an interest in a particular topic.
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