Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

9/13/07

NEWS RELEASE
Dr. James B. Smith to Receive Auburn School Board of Directors’ Gold Star Volunteer Award

The Auburn School District Board of Directors will present the Gold Star Volunteer Award to Dr. James B. Smith, in recognition of his volunteer support to Auburn School District, on Monday, September 24, at 7 p.m. in the board room at the James P. Fugate Administration Building.

Dr. Smith brings expertise on multicultural education to Auburn School District. Dr. Smith passionately volunteers on various committee and initiatives to improve the education of all students. “I know how to teach diverse students, and I enjoy bringing that knowledge to the district,” says Dr. Smith, who serves on the district’s diversity committee. “I feel like Auburn needs the help. There are very few teachers who are male and African American, so Auburn is a place where I can be visible in the classroom with students and help to educate diverse students,” remarks Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith also helps lead a multicultural workshop at the annual teacher orientation and throughout the year during professional development in-service workshops. At the teacher orientation, Dr. Smith works alongside John Sanders and Tim Carstens to assist new teachers in how to teach all children, no matter their socioeconomic status, at-risk status or cultural heritage. “We mostly deal with children at-risk and diversity in general, recognizing that students from diverse cultures have different learning styles and customs, family values, and beliefs. We help the teachers to understand that they have a culture of their own they need to understand before they interact with other cultures,” says Dr. Smith.

Dr. Smith’s value to Auburn School District is reflected in the positive evaluations and feedback he receives from his various professional development opportunities. He also substitutes in the district on occasion, and during his first two years of substituting, Dr. Smith was recognized as one of the premier guest teachers by the principals and teachers of the school district. “Auburn is such a growing and diverse population. I believe in lending my services to help create a positive learning environment for all students,” says Dr. Smith.

After 35 years of serving as a corporate executive for a Fortune 500 company, Dr. Smith felt impelled to give more back to his community. He enrolled in Antioch University, where he earned his teaching credentials and began student teaching at Chinook Elementary School in 2003.

Following the student teaching, Dr. Smith taught in a Native American after-school education program at Chinook Elementary School for three years. “The program targeted Native American students struggling in reading, math and spelling. It was a great opportunity to help students who might not receive help at home,” says Dr. Smith. Soon thereafter Dr. Smith accepted a full-time teaching position at City University.

Currently Dr. Smith teaches six core courses for a masters teaching program at City University, as well as graduate level courses for school counselors. He participates on the diversity committee for City University’s School of Education. He also serves on the equity committee for the State Board of Education and the bias and fair review team for OSPI.

Dr. Smith is active in his community as a co-chair of the education committee for the Seattle Breakfast Group; on the steering committee for the Coalition for Equal Education Rights; on the Heritage Speakers Bureau for Federal Way School District; on the black strategic roundtable for the Commission on African-American Affairs in Olympia; a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity scholarship foundation board; and a participant in a multiethnic think tank based out of Olympia.

Dr. Smith enjoys his time volunteering with Auburn School District, particularly because it keeps him connected to what to share and discuss with teachers working on their masters degrees and professional certification. “I enjoy using my skills and knowledge as an educator and as a corporate leader in the private sector to help insure all kids are given an equal opportunity for academic success. I am committed to continuing my efforts to try and make a positive impact on the educational landscape in the state of Washington,” says Dr. Smith.

For more information contact Amy Spence, public information officer, at (253) 931-4713.