Gunnery Sgt. Smith wins Teacher of the Month

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Written by Maryann Key, Staff Writer

Every month, an exceptional, dedicated, knowledgeable, and skilled educator is chosen as Teacher of the Month. For the month of February, Gunnery Sergeant Sherman Smith was chosen.

“I was surprised, awestruck, honored, and humbled all at the same time,” Smith said. “I received a sense of accomplishment to know that I was recognized on that level by my peers.”

Smith said even though he did not expect to be nominated, it was good to know his work was appreciated, and for his reward, he received a gift basket from the other teachers in the school.

Smith stated he has been the ROTC instructor for Newton High School for 14 years, and he enjoys every aspect of his job.

“I knew there was a need for an instructor here, and I think it is an honor to be able to help shape tomorrow’s adults,” Smith said. “Life has taught me a lot, and I would like to implement that in others.”

Smith said he decided in tenth grade he wanted to be in the military because it offered a challenge.

“The military seemed like an organization where I had to put forth more effort than a normal career,” Smith said. “I was in the Marine Corps for 22 years, and it was an excellent experience.”

After his hard work in the military, Smith retired to become the ROTC teacher for Newton.

He said he loves his job because ROTC gives kids an opportunity to “venture out and experience life’s crucial lessons” they normally would not learn in other classes at school.

Sophomore Justin Jones said Smith is a very dedicated and funny teacher, and he teaches vital lessons in his classes not only related to ROTC but lessons that will help later in life.

“Every day, I tell the kids that there are people who watch things happen, those who make things happen, and those who sit back and ask, ‘what just happened?’ I want my students to go out and make things happen,” Smith said.

The students in ROTC also appreciate having Smith as a teacher. Sophomore Brittany Smith said she thinks Smith deserved to win Teacher of the Month because he is a very inspirational teacher.

“He has a ton of integrity and is knowledge about what he is doing, and he knows how to teach students and explain lessons to them,” Brittany Smith said.