Assistant Superintendent Douglas Smith is saying goodbye after 14 years with the Wright City School District.

Smith previously served as assistant principal and athletic director at the high school and principal at the middle school before finally becoming assistant superintendent for the district.  

When asked about an accomplishment, Smith stated, "We have taken a much more team-oriented and collaborative approach to how kids learn- making sure that we have evidence of learning," Smith said. "That has been the most significant change I've seen here."

Under Smith's leadership, the district has risen to the top 24% of school districts in Missouri. The high school has been ranked No. 1 in the Eastern Missouri Conference in terms of high academic achievement for much of the past decade.

Smith also helped establish an "Aspiring Administrators" program to cultivate teachers for leadership roles. Several current principals came through the program, including Devin Raney, Taylor Backues, Sara Meadows, Matt Crowe, Erin Hammel, Angela Woodson, and Brian Ernst of Montgomery County High School.

His advice to future administrators is to "Focus on the student experience, and make sure that students learn from people who want them to be in their class- make sure that the environment is one where students can learn."

Smith recounted helping a struggling student get into an alternative program, regain eligibility for sports, and go on to become an all-state athlete who asked Smith to hand him his diploma at graduation - a powerful example of his student-first approach. Even though he is leaving the district, Smith hopes to continue coaching sports teams and directly impacting students.

Colleagues praise Smith's unwavering dedication to putting students first throughout his tenure. 

Jacob Wallace, who was hired and mentored by Smith, has taught with the district for seven years. He taught reading and social studies for two years in the middle school and English II for five years in the high school. Smith is a role model for many teachers at Wright City, and because of his experience in the classroom and central office, he sets the standard for curriculum implementation.

“Mr. Smith deserves a great deal of credit for our school district's unparalleled success in recent years,” Wallace said. “You would be hard-pressed to find another school district similar to ours that boasts the same test scores, student readiness metrics, and APR rating, and that is due in large part to Mr. Smith. He was instrumental in implementing our district-wide impact teams, which has led to incredible learning gains for our students and an increased instructional capacity for all of the district's teachers.”

As Smith moves on to retirement, his impact on teachers, especially on Wallace, has been lasting. 

“On a more personal note, Doug Smith is the number one reason I am the person and teacher I am today,” Wallace said. “If not for Mr. Smith, I would not have gotten my first job at Wright City when I graduated college in the middle of the year. The guidance and wisdom that he has so graciously passed along to me throughout every moment of my career is something I will always be grateful for and one of the main reasons why I look up to him as a mentor and a friend.” 

Smith’s vision and lead-by-example style are seen statewide. He was recently celebrated at the Missouri Association of School Administrators, where he was awarded the Distinguished Educator award for his lasting impact on the district.

At a retirement celebration, the Missouri Association of School Administrators awarded Smith the Distinguished Educator award for his lasting impact on the district.

Assistant Superintendent Jeremy Way said Smith's leadership will be sorely missed. 

"Doug's passion for helping all students reach their full potential has been an inspiration," Way said. "His legacy will be carried on by the many educators he mentored over the years."

Smith, 51, said he looks forward to spending more time with his family, especially attending his daughter's track meets at Missouri S&T University, where she is a freshman. But he doesn't plan on being a stranger at Wright City R-II School District.

"This community's been my life for a long time," Smith said. "I'll never really leave."