Dr. Smith
Dr. Smith started teaching at Mancelona at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. He came here after being a Principal, Superintendent, and teacher. Dr. Smith teaches physical science and chemistry from 9th grade up to 12th grade. He has impacted the students and made learning fun and unique in different ways. We interviewed him and asked him the following questions.
Why did you become a teacher?
"I actually got lucky when I was in my junior year of college i helped my buddy coach science olympian and I really enjoyed helping kids learn chemistry."
What do you plan on doing in the future?
"Retiring and fishing every day in the Florida Keys."
Do you plan on staying in Mancelona?
"For the foreseeable feature for the next 5-10 years, yes."
What do you like about Mancelona schools?
"The kids."
What is your favorite class to teach out of the 2 classes you teach?
"I like them both for different reasons. In physical science, kids get to do more labs but in chemistry, kids understand a lot more science."
What grade level do you prefer? Why?
"High School and middle school kids just have a different energy than high school kids I definitely prefer older kids."
What is your ideal classroom?
"My ideal classroom is filled with kids who are excited about science and wanna learn."
What are your career goals?
"That's a good question I don't know, continue to have fun."
Are you involved in any school activities? (if so what)
"I do coach pole vaulting not necessarily for Mancelona but for kids in northern Michigan." (Boyne City and Lake Charlevoix)
Makenna interviewed three different students asking them questions about Dr. Smith.
What do you like about Dr. Smith?
Hannah: He is very nice and he explains things very well. He doesn't make us feel stupid or make us embarrassed that we got something wrong.
Sky: He has a very unique way of teaching and he has a great sense of humor
Bree: I like that he's very laid back and isn't too strict and it doesn't make his class horrible.
What is your favorite memory in Dr. Smith's class?
Hannah: I think it would be his random outbursts of energy. He also had us get in a bag and he used a vacuum to suck the air up so that we would see how it worked.
Sky: Getting sucked up in a trash bag by a vacuum
Bree: Learning the words we use and what they mean. "Teaching him how to be a teenager in 2024”
What is one thing you like about his teaching?
Hannah: I like that he breaks it down and listens to the way we think. He tries to see it from our point of view
Sky: Its very un serious and he makes it easier to pay attention
Bree: That he's not very straightforward he gives us time to work at our own pace, and not giving us new stuff all the time which can be overwhelming.
Interview conducted by Makenna