Smith named Educator of the Year
<p>Dave Smith, counselor at New Vision High School, offers assistance to junior Mark Rogers and other students last Friday during their careers class. Smith, who will be retiring after 20 years in the Post Falls school district, will be honors with the district's Educator of the Year award Friday at the American Legion banquet.</p>
POST FALLS - At one point, Dave Smith wanted to be a college coach.
But helping students gear up for the workforce made him choose to become a different type of coach.
Smith, who has been a teacher and counselor for 40 years and with the Post Falls School District the past 20, was named the district's Educator of the Year on Friday night at the American Legion's annual banquet.
He'll retire after this school year.
Smith's most recent assignment has been a counselor at the New Vision Alternative High School.
"When we have former students coming back here on a weekly basis (to talk about what they're doing), you know you've made a difference," he said. "That's been the biggest thing for me."
Smith has also been a math, science, PE and vocational instructor. After playing football at the University of Idaho and Whitworth, he taught and coached at Kootenai, Clark Fork and Lakeland before teaching on a military base in West Germany and finally in Post Falls.
"As one of his fishing buddies, he can be very frustrating," mused Bill Dean, another longtime Post Falls high school teacher. "Whenever we stop for worms, it seems like we're always running into one of his former students who wants to revisit the old days. One time it took us an hour and a half to run into the mini mart for two Cokes and a bag of Donettes."
Smith started the "Career Pathway" vocational programs at Post Falls and Lakeland and New Vision's greenhouse class. The class is one of the school's most successful electives and holds popular public plant sales at Christmas and in the spring. The "Student Store" is another way Smith gives students hands-on experience.
New Vision senior Ryley Johnson is among Smith's fans.
"He's helped me figure out what to do after school and how to get there," said Johnson, who plans to become a dental hygienist. "He talks about everything with you and, if he doesn't know the answer, he finds out."
New Vision Principal Chris Sensel said Smith has used his calm and patient temperament to instill confidence in students.
"Kids trust his confidentiality and problem-solving abilities," Sensel said. "He puts kids in positions to make business decisions and puts them in leadership roles once they have developed skills. What happens next is truly amazing - kids respond."
Smith reminds students of a quote prominently displayed on his work materials that says, "If you find a job you love, you'll never have to work a day in your life."
Smith believes he found that job.
"I've loved teaching," he said.