BRIAN SMITH
Educator. Speaker. Blogger. Advocate.
WHO I AM
The Scoop About Me
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I proudly teach kindergarten at Wittenburg Elementary School in Alexander County Schools and I'm honored to be representing them as their Teacher of the Year this year. I love being the first point of contact for both parents and students as they begin their educational journey. I love students who make me laugh out loud (almost all of them) and the students who have huge personalities. I firmly believe that these are the children who will change the world. I strive to make sure that all students experience school as a safe environment where their risk-taking, creative, and individual spirits can really shine. I am passionate about children’s literature and love finding the perfect book to bring home each lesson.
I’ve been an educator since 2001. I graduated with my undergraduate degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina and with my master’s in elementary education from Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. I am a lifelong learner who loves to bring new ideas into the classroom (this could be due to some undiagnosed attention deficit disabilities). I have also earned a local endorsement for teaching students who are academically gifted.
I am a little bit obsessed with children's literature and I am blessed enough to have the privilege to teach Children and Adolescent Literature at Lenoir-Rhyne University. I also teach two other courses for pre-service teachers: Differentiation and Assessment.
Personally, I have been married for 18 years to a wonderful woman named Liz. We have an awesome daughter, Ella. Her activities and social schedule keep us busy. We live in Hickory, North Carolina, with our indoor cats, Boo Radley and Miss Gigi Pickles.
PASSIONATELY SPEAKING ABOUT...
WORD ON THE STREET...
Brian engages his audience from the beginning and keeps them hooked until the end. You won't find a more engaging and entertaining educator. Oh, and he knows his stuff, too
Dr. Jaymie Linton, author of The Blended Learning Blueprint for Elementary Teachers
Whether Brian is talking with students, teachers, or parents, he makes an immediate connection with his audience.Â
A gifted communicator, he makes difficult concepts easy to understand. His audience laughs, learns, and leaves inspired.
Angela Lawrence, Executive Director of Patrick Beaver Learning Resource Center
Watching Brian speak, audiences can expect an opportunity to feel as if they are engaged in a collaborative conversation among colleagues. Â His joy for the act of teaching is evident and exudes to his audience. Â The candid and friendly tone which Brian uses to deliver his talks makes his message feel more relatable and allows his audience to view him as a more accessible partner from which to learn and laugh.
Katie Hartman
Reading Specialist and Graduate Course Instructor
Manchester, PA
December 17, 2018
It has been a while since I posted but I am back and with a double interview! The book Snow Pony and the Seven Miniature Ponies completely captured my imagination and I had to know more so Christian Trimmer, the author, and Jessie Sima, the illustrator, both agreed to...
August 11, 2018
Karma Wilson is one of those legendary writers in my world. She has written so many amazing books, including the bear series. When I read any of the bear books to my class, I tell them that I am getting ready to read them such an amazing book that it’s just like secr...
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