Debra Odom

Debra Odom

2017 NACSA Leader

Debra Odom serves as the Manager of the Charter Office for Fresno Unified School District, the 4th largest district in the state of California. Prior to promotion to her current role in 2007, Debra served as a teacher, site administrator, and department manager.

Debra is an avid believer in volunteering and service to the community. She is a longstanding member of the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA), and Fresno Consolidated Charter, ACSA; where she has served as President of both the Regional and local charters. Additionally, she has served as President of the Valley Alliance of African American Educator, a local branch of the National Association of Black School Educators (NABSE).

Debra’s belief is that every child deserves access to a quality education, no matter what their socioeconomic status. In her free time, Debra loves to explore other cultures through traveling and reading.


Most Recent Posts
Research on School Closure Messaging: What Works
Five years ago, I was the COO at a charter school, and something was becoming increasingly obvious: we consistently did not have enough students enrolling to fill all our seats....
Better Together: Reflections from the DCSC Convening
I attended the Diverse Charter Schools Coalition (DCSC) convening earlier this month, and I’ve been reflecting on what stayed with me most. This year’s theme was “Better Together.” DCSC even...
2026 NACSA Leaders Program Cohort
Meet the newest members of NACSA’s Leaders Program. These leaders are committed to building systems that are transparent, equitable, and grounded in quality. Bridgett Abston Bridgett Abston is the Director...