Mark Smith hopes to help students learn and appreciate history.
Photo by Rebecca Holt
The Spartan torch of teaching AP U.S. History and inspiring social studies students has been passed. Last year, Gordon Heaton retired from his position teaching AP U.S. History, leaving behind him a 42-year legacy of excellence. Stepping up to take his place is Mark Smith, who hopes to continue showing students the importance of history in a new and exciting way.
“I’ve always loved American history,” said Smith, who was more than excited to take over the class. “So, when the position became available, I jumped at it.”
Smith was greatly influenced by Heaton, and was made to feel comfortable through Heaton’s encouragement when he first arrived at TJ. Heaton was viewed as a mentor to all of TJ’s history teachers, and though he may be a tough act to follow, Smith is up to the challenge.
Smith is teaching American History from the pre-Columbian era up to modern day. He aspires not only to have his students score well on their AP exams, but to have them also take something deeper from the class. He hopes that all of his students will take an interest in – and gain an appreciation for – history, by being in his class. “I just have a love for history and I hope I can portray that to the students that I teach,” said Smith, who believes that history is a very important thing for young people to learn about, so that they don’t repeat the mistakes of the past. “After all, you don’t know where you’re going until you know where you’ve been.”
Advanced Placement students are expected to go above and beyond other students scholastically, and Smith says his students not only meet but exceed these expectations. “Most of my students usually have something intelligent to say and have opinions on the subjects, which they usually portray through either their writing or through oral conversations in class,” Smith said.
Smith backs his goals up with solid qualifications. He received his B.A. at Metropolitan State College of Denver, and also attended Glassboro State in New Jersey, Westchester University in Pennsylvania, and the University of Denver. Before coming to TJ, Smith taught for seven years at Lake Middle School and one year at Henry Middle School.
Smith connects with his students on a personal and realistic level. “I think that Mr. Smith has the perfect balance of nurturing and a little bit of sarcasm to keep us from getting too big of an ego. He always helps you when you need it, and is more than willing to work with you if you don’t make it the first time; but when you get it right, you’ll know. He always tells you when you’re doing well,” said Senior Taliah Farnsworth, who had a class with Smith both sophomore and senior year. “I never get tired of listening to him because he always has something snappy to say.” Farnsworth both enjoyed and prospered in each of her classes with Smith, and came away with high grades and a new outlook on life.
But, for Farnsworth, the most important lessons were learned on the green. “I played golf with Mr. Smith, and I didn’t always do well. Some days were really horrible, but he would always just tell me, if you hit really badly, you may feel like you want to quit playing golf, but then the next time you force yourself to go out there, you’ll hit that one really good shot, and that makes you keep playing. He taught me that just when things are getting bad, you manage to keep going and you manage to come out on top.”
It seems that Smith is already well on his way to achieving his goal of leaving an impression on his students and maybe teaching a little history on the way. With his dream job now in his grasp, upward is the only direction left to go.
