If there’s any one teacher students and staff regard as one of the most highly-revered at Trinity, it’s most likely Mr. Smith. Not only has he stayed loyal to his Trinity family for 43 years, but he’s also been teaching high school biology all the while.
Before he began teaching in 1982, Smith knew from an early age that he was passionate about becoming a biology teacher. He mentions that, despite his crippling fear of public speaking, he was dead-set on this career path as soon as he set foot in his 9th grade biology class.
Smith made the difficult decision to retire after the 2024-2025 school year because he wanted to prioritize spending time with family. Now, he can visit his kids living out-of-state as well as his five grandkids on his own terms.
A common theme in Smith’s favorite aspects of Trinity was the people. He adds that this school has always been “a special place” because it’s small enough that people know each other, yet big enough to be filled with opportunities for students and teachers alike.
As he reminisces on his time at Trinity, Smith adds, “I’ll miss the people most of all. I was involved in hiring most of the teachers in the science department, and it’s been a great experience. As new teachers bring their talent to Trinity, I’ve had to work on keeping up with them by making myself a better teacher. As for my students, I’ll miss the daily interactions. I’ve had quite the audience for the last 43 years, so that’ll be an adjustment.”
Smith notes that a memory that will have an everlasting impact on him stems from when he became sick 12 years ago. After going through severe health issues, he was left with no choice but to go on medical leave halfway through the 2013-2014 school year.
Remarkably, Smith was met with overwhelming support from his Trinity family. He received posters, cards and letters from staff and students while battling his illness. The Class of 2014 even donned Smith’s iconic tie at their graduation ceremony to pay homage to their favorite biology teacher.
“They sent me a video of it, and there were a lot of days where that’s what kept me going. I was always asked what I’d want to get back to while in recovery, and my answer was always that I wanted to be back in class with my
students,” Smith mentions.
After he teaches his last lesson and grades his last test, Smith will have plenty of time to get back to the activities he enjoys most. He says that he plans to become even more involved in his church and give back to the community by doing volunteer work.
Smith also brings up a frequently asked question: Who will take over Honors and AP Biology once he retires? Smith is happy to report that his class will be left in good hands as Mrs. Walk will take over and do so flawlessly. He also notes that, as the Head of the Science Department, he will be passing down the role to a worthy candidate, Mrs. Monteleone.
In his final remarks, Smith advises his Trinity family to appreciate every day and to not count down the days. He believes people should be appreciative of those around them.
