The Odessa R-VII Public Foundation Board of Directors presented teacher grants on Friday, February, 2026. Twelve grant applications were approved. Grants were presented to the following staff members by Odessa R-VII Foundation Board of Directors.

Congratulations to Mr. Jake Doyle, Middle School Physical Education teacher. He has been chosen as the February “MAKING A DIFFERENCE” award winner for the Odessa R-VII School District.  The middle school staff had the following comments about how he makes a difference:

• Mr. Doyle is a dedicated teacher, staff member and coach. He goes above and beyond each day to ensure ALL kids are learning and involved.
• He goes above and beyond to provide our students opportunities. He does a morning weights club before school, he participates in the Special Olympics basketball events with our FLP kids, he takes our FLP kids fishing and has brought Archery to OMS.
• He is always looking for fun activities to get them outside of school. He is teaching them skills that will carry over into adulthood.

Thank you Mr. Doyle for Making A Difference for our students

Mr. Larry Hol has been selected as the Odessa R-VII Community Champion for the month of January. Mr. Hol is a beloved retired principal of McQuerry Elementary who began his career in the district in 1986 as principal of Mayview Elementary. In 1995, he became principal of McQuerry Elementary, where he served until his retirement in 2016.

Throughout his career, Mr. Hol made a positive and lasting impact on countless students, staff members, and families. He has continued his legacy in the district by serving as a substitute teacher and paraprofessional, helping to fill a critical need at a time when the district is shorthanded in these areas. For many years, he also served as the clock and scorekeeper for Odessa basketball games and recently trained his replacement.

Mr. Hol volunteers with the Odessa Community Service Center, where he plays a vital role in fundraising efforts. He also served as president of the Odessa Optimist Club for 12 years and, although he recently stepped down from that role, continues to generously dedicate his time and energy to supporting and strengthening the community. Most recently, Mr. Hol was selected as the Hometown Hero by the Odessa Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Hol is known for his servant’s heart and unwavering commitment to others. He is a vital part of both our community and our school family, an exemplary role model, and a true champion of Odessa R-VII and the Odessa community.

As part of the requirements of “Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act” (RSMo 160.077) the Odessa R-VII School District is taking the necessary steps to ensure safe drinking water for everyone within the buildings.  District personnel identified drinking water outlets throughout the district and utilized the services of Axiom Service Professionals to conduct testing of each outlet.  Those results, once received back from the lab, will be made available to the public on the school website. 

Additional information about the effects of lead can be found at: https://health.mo.gov/living/environment/lead/publications.php

Remediation Plan

Any samples that resulted in readings greater than the required 5 ppb level will be corrected and retested. Some sinks were not in areas in which there was an expectation of them being drinking water, they have been labeled as such, “not drinking water”. Others, which are areas that will be used for drinking water, are being addressed and will be retested. Further results will be posted here upon their return to the District.