Meet the Team at Odyssey Charter Schools
Our Philosophy
Our leadership is grounded in fostering a supportive environment where students, families and staff feel valued, connected and empowered. This philosophy guides how we lead, collaborate and build a school community rooted in trust, care and shared responsibility.
Lauren O’Neill has dedicated more than 31 years to the educational reform movement in California, with a steadfast commitment to school choice and equitable access to high-quality public education. As a founding teacher of Odyssey Charter School in 1999, she has played a central role in the school’s growth and evolution, serving in multiple leadership capacities and ultimately as Executive Director.
With the support of a dedicated and diverse leadership team, Lauren led Odyssey through significant growth, more than doubling student enrollment from 260 to 485 students in grades K–8. During her tenure, she successfully guided the school through three charter renewals and spearheaded the expansion of the Odyssey network with the opening of OCS South Charter School in 2018, extending Odyssey’s mission to serve additional TK–8 students.
Established as a public nonprofit in 1999, Odyssey Charter Schools now operates two campuses committed to academic excellence, social-emotional well-being, and social responsibility through a Diverse by Design educational model. Under Lauren’s leadership, Odyssey has consistently ranked among the top 10% of public schools in California.
Lauren O’Neill
Executive Director
Sylvia Corona
Director of Education
Ms. Sylvia Corona approaches education as both an act of service and social responsibility. She began teaching with LAUSD in 2000 through Teach For America and joined Odyssey Charter School in 2005.
At Odyssey, Ms. Corona has taught grades 4–8, coached girls basketball, initiated and led the annual High School Fair—now a signature school event—and, over seven years as a middle school teacher, taught all core subjects before ultimately focusing on language arts. She also served as Middle School Coordinator for seven years. Committed to developing future educators, she has partnered with Teach For America to train and mentor new teachers entering the profession.
From 2018 to 2023, she served as Principal, guiding the school through the COVID-19 pandemic and the return to in-person learning. In 2025, she helped guide the school community through the Eaton Fire, supporting the temporary relocation of both campuses to three sites and the successful return to campus in August 2025. In 2023, she began her role as Director of Education.
Rachelle Martinez
Director of Operations
Bringing over 20 years of experience in education administration, organizational development and community-based programs, Ms. Rachelle Martinez has been connected to the Odyssey community since 2004, serving as Director of Operations since 2007.
In her role, she oversees administrative, legal, compliance, facilities, enrollment and financial systems. She has played a central role in expanding Odyssey’s footprint, including launching the South Campus, managing multiple campus relocations and leading major construction and renovation projects. Her leadership has been critical during periods of crisis, including coordinating emergency operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2025 Eaton Fire to ensure student and staff safety and continuity of learning.
Ms. Martinez holds an academic background in Leadership Studies and Child Development. As a parent of two Odyssey graduates, she brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to her work, reflecting a long-standing dedication to the mission and future of Odyssey Charter Schools.
After joining Odyssey as an Inclusion Specialist in 2015, Ms. Chasityflame Price has served as Director of Special Education since 2021.
Ms. Price developed a passion for teaching at age eight, sparked by a teacher who recognized and encouraged her love for writing. From that day on she knew she wanted to make children feel seen and special. While in college, she centered her studies on supporting students with special needs, inspired by her sister Breezydai and a lifelong commitment to advocating for inclusive, high-quality education. Working as an Inclusion Specialist prepared her to step into the role of Director of Special Education, expanding her leadership and student reach in the field.
Ms. Price earned her Liberal Studies BA and Education Specialist Credential from the California State University Northridge. Other interests include writing, trips to the beach, bike rides, visiting the local farmers markets, spending time with friends and watching movies.
Chasityflame Price
Director of Special Education
Ms. Melissa Herrera has served as Odyssey’s Lunch Coordinator since August 2013.
Prior to joining Odyssey, she worked as a tutor and recruiter with various nonprofit organizations across the Inland Empire and Los Angeles County. With a passion for nutrition, healthy student eating and a background in business and education, Odyssey aligned naturally with her background and interests.
Ms. Melissa received her B.A. in Business Administration from California State University, San Bernardino. Outside of work, Melissa enjoys traveling, movies, volunteering and discovering new vegan restaurants.
Melissa Herrera
Director of Food Services
Ms. Latoya Presley has been a member of the Odyssey family for ten years, currently serving as the Campus Operations & Enrollment Manager. She oversees front office operations, school information systems and enrollment and recruitment efforts for both Odyssey and OCS-South. As the first point of contact for new families, Latoya finds joy in welcoming and guiding new families to take root in the community. Her commitment is deeply personal; as an employee and parent of a middle school graduate she has witnessed the program's impact firsthand. She also extends her passion for communication by serving on the ParentSquare Advisory Council, where she advocates for best practices in family engagement.
Prior to Odyssey, Latoya gained extensive experience as a founding charter member serving 13 years as the Office Manager and Dean of Students at a South Central LA charter middle school. Latoya also has a history of mentoring youth through various initiatives for underserved youth.
A proud member of the illustrious Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and a University of California, Riverside alumna, Latoya is also creative outside of work. She enjoys designing clothes, thrifting, traveling and trying new foods - all while spending time with her son and trying her best to stay one step ahead of his hilarious (and frequent) pranks.
Latoya Presley
Campus Operations & Enrollment Manager
Mr. Cliff Cordova joined Odyssey in late 2020 as a part-time custodian and now serves as Facilities and Maintenance Manager. He oversees all aspects of building maintenance, cleaning and repairs—ensuring a safe, clean and efficient environment for students and staff. With a hands-on approach, Cliff handles everything from preventative maintenance to emergency fixes and takes pride in keeping the campus running smoothly.
A lifelong automotive enthusiast, Mr. Cordova has been building cars and trucks since he was 13. Before Odyssey, he worked in the film industry in both production and editing. He’s found his true calling at Odyssey, where he enjoys supporting the community and making a difference every day.
Cliff Cordova
Facilities & Plant Manager
Supportive Partnerships
Fostering a Supportive Environment extends beyond the classroom through strong partnerships with trusted local and national organizations. These relationships provide guidance, resources and shared expertise that strengthen Odyssey Charter Schools and support our students and school community.
Join Our Team
Odyssey is a collaborative, mission-driven school community made up of educators and staff who are deeply committed to students and to one another. If you value thoughtful teaching, continuous growth and meaningful impact, we invite you to reach out to us.