Wilmington, DE — U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester visited Odyssey Charter School on Friday, highlighting a model of education that combines bilingual Greek-English instruction, student-led food production, and new pathways to higher education in Greece.
The visit focused on three core initiatives at the Wilmington-based charter school: a food studies program that produces and distributes thousands of pounds of fresh food annually, a bilingual curriculum aimed at strengthening literacy outcomes, and recently announced partnerships with Greek universities that significantly reduce the cost of college for graduates.
“This was an incredibly inspirational day,” Sen. Blunt Rochester said during the visit. “It’s a combination of what they’re learning with farm animals, what they’re learning with growing vegetables and fresh fruits, taking that from farm to table, and also learning about the professions of the future as it pertains to food.”
Food Justice Built Into the Curriculum
Odyssey Charter School serves approximately 2,400 students, about 40 percent of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Rather than treating food insecurity solely as a support issue, the school has integrated food access into its academic programming.
“Odyssey produces about 6,000 pounds of fresh food every year that it gives back to the community,” said Elias Papas, CEO and Executive Director of Odyssey Charter Schools. “We have a food pantry that serves over 200 families per week. This is part of our philanthropic mission and part of our filotimo.”
Students grow food both indoors and outdoors and earn college credits in subjects including botany, hydroponic production, and nutrition. The food is distributed through a student-managed pantry and a regional network of nonprofit partners.
According to Melissa Tracy, who leads the food studies program, Odyssey’s approach intentionally blends academics with service.
“Our food studies career pathway is part culinary and part agriculture,” Tracy said. “Students learn about food through the lens of culture, environment, history, and power. Food justice is an undercurrent of everything that we teach.”
The school partners with organizations including the Food Bank of Delaware, Sharing Excess, Phillips Mushroom Farms, Goodr, and Blessings of Hope. Program funding support is provided by the Harry K Foundation.
Beginning next year, Odyssey is expected to become one of the first schools in the country to offer a formal culinary medicine program centered on the Mediterranean diet.
“Nobody is doing what we’re doing in the country,” Tracy said. “The coursework, the food labs, the hands-on activities. It’s all fully integrated.”
Bilingual Education and Literacy Outcomes
Greek-English immersion is central to Odyssey’s academic model. School leadership argues that bilingual instruction strengthens literacy in both languages while improving long-term academic outcomes.
“We’ve positioned ourselves to help address the nation’s literacy challenge through bilingual education and the teaching of the Greek language,” Papas said. “Every student we’re able to move from illiterate to literate could add an estimated $30,000 to $60,000 to the GDP, according to school leadership.”
With 2,400 students enrolled, Odyssey leaders say the cumulative educational and economic impact of improved literacy outcomes could be substantial.
New Pathways to Higher Education in Greece
During the visit, Odyssey officials also outlined newly established partnerships with major Greek universities, including the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and the University of Western Macedonia.
Students who achieve B2-level certification in Greek are eligible to attend public universities in Greece tuition-free. Students who do not reach B2 can still enroll in private Greek universities at an estimated cost of $40,000 to $45,000, representing a savings of nearly $100,000 compared to many U.S. colleges.
“This pathway is available to all students, regardless of Greek proficiency when they begin,” said Ioanna Lekkakou, Vice President of Hellenic Education and Global Outreach. “Even students who arrive without speaking Greek and learn the basics at Odyssey can benefit.”
School leaders describe the initiative as extending the “Odyssey Model” from K–12 to K–16, formally linking secondary education to higher education opportunities abroad.
Students Leave the Strongest Impression
While the programs and partnerships drew attention, Sen. Blunt Rochester said the students themselves left the strongest impression.
“The most exciting and inspiring thing was the students,” she said. “They come from different backgrounds, and they presented with passion, compassion, and intellect. They fit the school’s mascot, the owl, which represents wisdom.”
She encouraged students to remain curious and engaged. “Know thyself. Continue to learn. Continue to serve,” she told them. “The baton is being passed to you, and I believe you’re ready to receive it.”
Growing National Attention
Tracy, who has taught for more than 20 years, said Odyssey’s charter structure has enabled innovation.
“When charter schools actually live up to the vision, they create opportunities that wouldn’t exist otherwise,” she said. “I’ve had leadership opportunities here that would never have happened in a traditional school setting.”
For students arriving with or without prior Greek-language exposure and from a wide range of economic backgrounds, Odyssey presents education as a connected system linking academics, community health, cultural heritage, and global opportunity.
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