Darlythia Smith

Carter G. Woodson Elementary School

Title: Fifth-grade math teacher

What/who influenced you to enter the education field? Family and friends

How long have you been teaching with the district? Four years

What excites you about your job?  Engaging students with performance-based activities and allowing them the chance to apply the skills/concepts that have been taught. I also enjoy watching students have the light bulb go off because they truly understand what was taught and they can apply the skills/concepts to real world applications.

What was your favorite subject in school? Math and science

What are your guiding principles as they relate to your profession? I believe in building relationships with students so that the classroom culture is built around my students’ success. I believe in equity and that all students deserve the same education. I believe that students deserve more and we as educators should give them more. We should not hold back because we are afraid. Instead, we should make our teaching student-based and student-centered.

Nominated by: Assistant Principal Kathleen Adkins

Here’s what Assistant Principal Adkins has to say about Ms. Smith: Ms. Smith is a great teacher. She is the type that you wish you could duplicate and put in every classroom. She is fair, creative and hard-working. Every lesson she plans begins with the end in mind. She plans performance-based activities that allow students to apply the concept that she has taught. This is a step towards Common Core Standards, which is the direction we are headed. Ms. Smith has many great qualities but none greater than helping students reach their potential and making math exciting!