Having grown up in Indianapolis, February You Make A Difference winner Erica Oden hasn’t always lived here.  She was born on a military base in Fort Ord, California.

Growing up, she had a father who was in the active duty military. She was in shock when she first discovered she won the YMAD award and says she’s very grateful, and tries to make a difference in the lives of her students every single day.

What is your favorite part about working at BD?

“My favorite part about working at BD is being able to interact with students on a daily basis. I think that it is important to build and maintain positive relationships with students.”

How long have you been working at BD?

“I have been working at BD as a paraprofessional in the Special Services department since February 2013.”

What are some things you do during the school day?

“I do a lot during the school day. I spend part of my day in the Learning Center assisting in Credit Recovery, I spend time as a one on one, and I also assist in Developmental Reading classes.”

When did you decide you wanted this job? Why?

“I decided that I wanted this job when I was looking for permanent jobs on the MSD Wayne Township website. I spent some time working with the AVID program while I was finishing up my degree and I really enjoyed working in Wayne Township. I have wanted to become a teacher since I was six years old and was excited for an opportunity in the education field after graduating college.”

What college did you attend?

“I attended Marian University and received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science. I am currently attending Liberty University for my Master’s degree in Secondary Social Studies Education.”