25 May 2010
Smith has been Director of Bands at Hillcrest for four years
DALLAS–Adam Brian Smith, director of bands at the Dallas Independent School District's Hillcrest High School, has been named the Dallas ISD's 2010–2011 Teacher of the Year.
Smith has served at Hillcrest High School since 2006 as band director and is also the head coach for the girls' softball team.
Principal Ronald Jones says that Smith's program is the reason many students come to school daily and succeed academically. "My Campus Teacher of the Year, Adam Brian Smith, is extremely nurturing and patient in working with all students, especially those deemed at-risk," said Jones. "In an effort to reach each student, this teacher goes the extra mile to discover the joys and sorrows of all students and meet their needs."
Under Smith's direction, the band program has grown from 19 to 150 student members.
"As a Hillcrest parent, I have watched the Hillcrest band grow both in numbers and quality during the last few years," said Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa. "This doesn't just happen; it takes dedication, competence, and hard work. It is quite fitting that Mr. Smith is the district's Teacher of the Year."
Smith, a single parent of three children, says that giving students an exciting, quality music education is his vehicle of enticement for students to stay in school. Smith believes that the arts can help students become tenacious, team-oriented problem solvers who are confident and able to think creatively.
"Because my students enjoy their successes in band they have become disciplined, creative, committed, and dependable young citizens who want to stay eligible to participate, pass TAKS, have a higher attendance record, and stay on track for graduation," said Smith.
Smith obtained a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Tulsa in 1990. In 1992, he received a Master of Music Education, also from the University of Tulsa.
Smith's students perform yearly at the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Rally, the National "Say No to Drugs" Red Ribbon Campaign and the Capital One Bank Adolphus Children's
Parade. Principal Jones believes that these varied experiences and opportunities assist in building students' character while stressing civic responsibility. Continuing to serve others, on his own time, Smith performs with the Park Cities Baptist Church orchestra, the Metropolitan Winds organization, volunteers for the Women's community crisis center holiday food drive, and for other community groups and events.
Smith likes to always be professional and engaged in the lives of his students to serve as a role model for them. "I treat each student as though they are extraordinary," said Smith. "My belief - that everyone deserves the opportunity to be a success story and to be extraordinary - helps me demonstrate my personal teaching style through sincerity, knowledge, and humor." Every day Smith tries to live his life as a role model because he believes that "educators have just as much of a moral impact on children's lives as their parents do." "Everything about the student/teacher relationship has the potential to become a lesson in morality, ethics, and decency," said Smith.
An engraved award was presented to Adam Brian Smith by Superintendent of Schools Michael Hinojosa and Stephen Butt, senior vice president, Central Market Division, H-E-B, presented him with a cash award for $5,000.
As the event's sponsor, Central Market H-E-B, also presented the Teacher of the Year finalists with a $1,000 cash award. Those finalists are: