Cindy Smith, Hayden Peak Elementary

Feb 19, 2019, 5:44 PM | Updated: Jan 30, 2024, 9:43 am

...

The following was submitted by David Butler.

“I would like to nominate Cindy Smith for the Teacher Feature Award. She is a loving teacher that gets results! Her students love and respect her. She has high standards and expects each of her students to excel and they do. Cindy’s students have consistently shown incredible growth on their academic tests. I recently asked Cindy how she gets the results she is getting. Here is her response:

Something that has been on my mind a lot lately is your question to me on my growth scores for my kiddos. How do you do it?

I have been thinking about this non-stop since you asked me. Here is what I have come up with. Don’t know that its any different then any other teacher though.

I know I have not been teaching in the school system for very long, but my life has been kids. I grew up in a family of 9 children me being the 4th to oldest and yes, with 5 younger siblings and my personality I helped out a lot, I also grew up taking care of other children in the neighborhood. As I went through school I was definitely not the most popular, in fact I was targeted by one kid in particular, who in high school ended up dying in a car accident. I was pretty smart, but not one of the smartest, I worked hard, but not hard enough and I had good teachers but none that made me feel like I was extraordinary.

At the age of 17 I went to New York and was a nanny for over a year, I came home and shortly after worked in a daycare facility. I had other jobs (quite a few actually that did not involve children) I owned a dance studio, was involved with children there (and parents :/) For 15 years I dealt with parents and children within my home. Plus I raised/am raising 9 children.

All of my own children have struggled in school, they have not been top of their class, in fact it has been a struggle for some of them to pull A’s and B’s. This was not from not being pushed and lack of help from home. In fact I sat/sit and helped (help) them often.

So what is it that I do in my own classroom to help my students succeed.
I teach lessons, I hold them accountable, I strive for understanding within my classroom, I stress when they turn in homework, take a quiz and/or a test and don’t quite get it. I worry about each and everyone of them all the time. Wondering whats going on with them at home and in their home life, what can I do to help them succeed in sixth grade, what can I do to prepare them for middle school, what, what, what? (I am sure the other teachers do this as well) I hold after school math tutoring because I feel like math is one of our biggest growths in learning. I stress to them the importance of learning and why they are in school. I work with them one on one when needed (interventions or when ever needed). I worry about if my lessons are being as effective as I would like them to be, how can I keep their interest. I play games, I reward them, I give them consequences, I tell them I have each and everyone of them on a pedestal and I know they are capable of going above and beyond that, I believe in them and know they can achieve and succeed in anything, I cheer them on and I work on positive talk not negative whether it be about school work, each other or about themselves. These are the things I am doing in my classroom, are they different then any other teacher? I doubt it.

One thing I have noticed throughout the years and especially these last couple of years is my ability to love and accept. Do my students drive me crazy? Yes. Do I have hard students? Yes, we all have those kids, I can tell you though no matter how crazy they drive me, no matter what they do, they know I care and love each of them. Do I get along with some better then others? Yes, its the same as any family we click better with some then others because of their personalities, but does it mean I love them any less? No. My students know I look at our class as a family, we are all there to cheer each other on, to help each other out and to accept each other as they are. If one of us struggles we all struggle, if one of us succeeds we all succeed. I love them into learning.

That’s all I can think of. I hope its enough to continue to see the growth in each and everyone of my students. I can be hard, I can expect a lot, but it is because I care. 92%, 85%, they aren’t good enough. It’s not 100%. I want and will reach everyone of them some how, some way.

Thank you again for giving me this opportunity. I love teaching and I hope to never get to a place where I don’t. Please let me know when and where I need to work on things. I am always open to feedback in my teaching and ways I can be better.

Sincerely,
Cindy

As you can see, Cindy is an amazing teacher and extremely deserving of this reward. I love her quote, “I love them into learning.” This totally sums up what type of teacher she is. I hope you will consider recognizing Cindy Smith for this award.
Sincerely,
David Butler
Principal, Hayden Peak Elementary”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

The Powder Baby Dry Shampoo team poses with its check after winning the 2024 Utah Entrepreneur Chal...

Logan Stefanich, KSL.COM

BYU student startup wins $30K at Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

BYU entrepreneur Kylee Black, who founded Powder Baby, said the cash prize will be instrumental in advancing her business.

42 minutes ago

Utah Jazz Collin Sexton...

Ben Anderson

Jazz 3-18 Since Trade Deadline After Loss To Spurs

At 3-18 since the trade deadline, the Jazz now sit behind the 4-19 Portland Trail Blazers as the league’s worst team since February 8.

1 hour ago

Myrtle Spurge is often touted as deer-resistant and drought-tolerant, but the plant is rapidly inva...

Eliza Pace

Salt Lake County Health warns of harmful myrtle spurge plant

Myrtle Spurge was originally introduced to Utah as a decorative plant but is an invasive species that has spread to natural areas.

2 hours ago

IRS texts are bogus. Picture shows a sign saying "warning, scam alert" on a keyboard...

Britt Johnson

Millions to be paid for Utah’s largest real estate scheme settlement

Over $10 million in refunds will go to victims of a Utah-based real estate scheme following the settlement of a lawsuit.

3 hours ago

Outside of the Yale University Law School is pictured on September 27, 2018 in New Haven, Connectic...

Zenebou Sylla, CNN

Some New England universities, including Yale, break $90,000 barrier for total tuition cost in upcoming school year

(CNN) — Several New England universities and colleges, including Yale, have reached a pinnacle of at least $90,000 for undergraduate tuition and costs starting this fall. Yale University, Tufts University, Boston University (BU), and Wellesley College are among a few private institutions that will top this year’s costs for tuition, housing and other expenses, according to […]

11 hours ago

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after he allegedly t...

Pat Reavy, ksl.com

West Jordan man shot, killed best friend while trying to ‘be funny,’ police say

A West Jordan man was arrested Tuesday for investigation of negligent homicide after shooting his "best friend."

11 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Cindy Smith, Hayden Peak Elementary