Learning together means creating a partnership in which teachers, parents, colleagues, administration, App State professors, and people in the community choose to collaborate and work alongside one another to create the best learning environment for our students.
Suzanne Smith, originally from Stokesdale, North Carolina, earned a B.S. in elementary education from Piedmont International University in 2015, a B.A. in elementary education from High Point University in 2015, and an M.Ed. in teaching and learning from Liberty University in 2018.
In addition, Smith, who serves as one of the Academy’s third-grade teachers, is currently enrolled in Appalachian’s Master of Arts in Reading Education degree program and will graduate in May 2021. Read on to learn more:
Why did you choose to work at the Academy?
I chose to work at the Academy because the school’s focus is on creating an environment that is focused on the whole child, implementing high-quality literacy instruction, and research-based instruction. I love how the Academy has implemented a curriculum that emphasizes the importance of building model citizens through HIKE (honesty, integrity, kindness, and excellence) and morning meetings.
In addition, the Academy’s curriculum crosses subjects. For example, the first strand is identity and in our science lessons, we studied the systems of the body, as well as character traits and emotions. In social studies, we studied our local region and its culture.
What's your favorite part about working at the Academy?
My favorite part about working at the Academy is the welcoming atmosphere. The students are so excited to enter the school building and their classrooms. As you walk down the halls, you see a love of education through the words, attitudes, and actions of each teacher, administrator and staff member. Throughout the school, you witness teamwork and a willingness to help each individual student succeed.
How are you impacting education in your community?
One way that I am impacting education in my community is by pursuing a master’s degree in reading education at App State. In my cohort, I am collaborating with other educators across the district to develop educational strategies that I can implement in my classroom — specifically, instruction based on the individual needs of our students.
Also, I am teaching students how to be true citizens of their community by demonstrating how they can show honesty, integrity, kindness, and excellence — within the classroom and in their communities.
What was your favorite subject when you were in elementary school?
Math
The Academy has a reading literacy focus. What is your favorite book?
There Was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly
“Learning together” is a core commitment of the Academy. What does "learning together" mean to you?
Learning together means creating a partnership in which teachers, parents, colleagues, administration, App State professors, and people in the community choose to collaborate and work alongside one another to create the best learning environment for our students.
Describe an experience where you "learned together" at the Academy.
Learning together is always occurring at the Academy. For example, App State professors regularly visit the school. They help facilitate learning and share research-based strategies that we, the teachers, can implement in our classrooms — in a variety of subject areas, including reading, science, social studies, math and writing.
Just for fun, what is your favorite candy?
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Stay tuned and watch for new Academy Staff Spotlights each month.
Suzanne Smith
