In his first year as Community School of Davidson (CSD) Executive Director, Craig Smith has made an impression on the community in many ways. He makes himself available to students and staff by speaking to clubs like the AACA and appearing in a solo press conference for students in Journalism, Media Productions, and Photography, as well as being visible at a variety of sporting events. In the morning, high school students might see him holding the door for a stream of bus kids, and greeting them with his signature “Be your best today.” Before assuming the role of Executive Director this year, Smith was the Principal of Lake Norman Charter (LNC) high school.
As your first year at CSD comes to a close, how are you feeling?
Right now, I’m really looking forward to all the end of year celebrations and all the things that happen at the end of the school year, K-12. It’s such an exciting time and it’s such an active time.
I am also looking forward to having my first year under my belt and having the summer to reflect and see where there are areas of things I want to implement. But using this first year as my listening tour, my acclimating, building relationships, has been awesome.
What’s your favorite memory from your first year at CSD?
It’s tough to pick just one because there are so many, but honestly, on the Spirit Week when y’all did Top Dog Tuesday. To see so many people do it and how many parents reached out to me because they were seeing it on social media or because they took a picture of their kid before school… that was a really cool moment for me.
Sweet or savory?
Sweet.
What’s something you discovered about CSD’s community that you didn’t expect?
How the entire community really embraces the performing arts.
If you went to CSD as a kid, what arts concentration would you have taken?
When I see the talent level of our students, I have a hard time envisioning that I would ever be able to do anything at the level that they’re able to. I mean, I was really, really involved in athletics. And so seeing how many of our student athletes embrace dance and to know how that crosses over and how that conversations with our coaches who love that they’ve got their athletes that are in there. So while I’m not saying that I’m anywhere close to that level, maybe, you know, being a dancer.
You’ve been very active in making sure to come to tons of CSD sporting events. Did you play any sports in high school?
I played varsity basketball and varsity tennis for four years each when I was in high school. And now I coach flag football; I coach my son’s team.
What is the sport you watch the most on TV?
Football and basketball.
If you could only eat one meal again, what would it be?
Peanut butter and jelly. I could do that every day.
Can you tell me about one of your role models?
I was fortunate to have some tremendous role models, but the person that comes to mind is Andy Maloff. He was one of my high school math teachers. He was also one of my basketball coaches. And then it worked out that I actually did my student teaching for him. I remember in high school, I always knew I wanted to be a high school math teacher and an administrator, and he was somebody who I wanted to emulate. So then when I got to student teach for him, that was such an incredible experience to actually be in his classroom teaching and modeling the type of teacher he was. And I’ve remained connected with him.
What is your favorite season?
Summer.
What’s the best part of your day?
Being able to do something that I love, and seeing our students succeed.
Favorite music artist/band?
Jay-Z and Eminem.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Somewhere with proximity to the beach, warm temperatures, and my family close by.
What’s the most difficult part of your job?
The legislative influence that exists in North Carolina. Specifically, there are policies and laws that are made by legislators who are not educators, that directly impact what educators have to do. I wish that there could be more of an educator voice in political decisions that impact schools.
Morning or night person?
Morning. I set an alarm as an emergency, but very rarely do I even have to be woken up by it.
What’s something you have learned from someone at CSD in your time here?
The importance of approaching every conversation from the other person’s perspective.
How was the adjustment to CSD from LNC?
The biggest adjustment was that in my 20-year career, this is the first time where I had an opening day of school where I wasn’t in a building specific position or a classroom specific position. I didn’t have this structured regimen of what my day-to-day was going to look like. So that took a huge adjustment, but it’s been a positive one.
