“From raising baby chicks in kindergarten to blowing bubbles in fourth grade, I knew that learning didn't have to mean sitting in a desk all day with paper and pencil in hand,” says Garth Smith, the library media specialist at Swift School. “I knew it could be exploration and inquiry. It could be fun and exciting.”

Smith has called Swift School “home” for 10 ½ years, teaching second and third grades her first 1 ½ years and kindergarten for 8 ½ years, before moving into the library position.

Smith knew as a little girl that she wanted to be a teacher.

“I’ve always loved helping others learn, and as I grew older I was given the opportunity to work with kids in the children’s ministry,” she says. “It further confirmed my calling to teach.”

In addition to helping others, Smith has several teachers from her childhood that inspired her to take up this career.

“There are many teacher from my childhood who inspired me with a love of learning, but the two that stand out the most are Linda Philippi, my kindergarten teacher, and Brenda Pointkowski, my fourth grade teacher,” she says. “Both of these ladies made learning fun and interesting and always knew how to encourage me at just the right times.”

The most important things Smith hopes her students learn is that they have a teacher who loves them, cares for them and believes in them.

“I hope they see me as a person of character and not just another person to be in charge of them for yet another school year,” she says. “I hope they can trust me, confide in me when necessary and that they know I will support them in every way possible to help them succeed.

TEACHER: Garth Smith

SCHOOL: Swift School

SUBJECT(S) TAUGHT: Library Media Specialist

SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT YOURSELF: When I was in fourth grade, we did a science experiment on blowing bubbles and I won the final event, the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest.