Hello, and welcome to the George A. Smith website! My name is Jim Close and I am the principal here at Smith Middle School. The staff and I are excited to welcome your student to another school year on August 25, 2008.

  By way of introduction, I'd like to give you some information about my background in education. This year is my 37th year in education, which I hope demonstrates that I enjoy my job! I received my undergraduate degree in Social Studies and my Master degree in administration from East Carolina University. My teaching career began in Aurora, NC, where I taught Social Studies and coached football, basketball, and track for 4 years. I was then fortunate to have the opportunity to move to Wyoming to become a high school administrator. After seven year, I moved to Kansas where we spent six years, then to Northeast PA for six years where I continued my career as an administrator. In 1994 I had the opportunity to come to Solanco as Smith Middle School principal.

  Often when I introduce myself to people and they ask what kind of work I do, I get the same reaction. People roll their eyes or laugh and ask, "How do you do it?" or say "I could never do that!" I am quick to assure them that despite what they might have thought, middle schoolers are a great group of students to work with and I enjoy them very much. There is a great deal of satisfaction in watching the transformation of an uncertain 6th grader find their way around the school, and then three years later, to walk out as confident young men and women, equipped with the skills necessary to succeed in high school.

  While your students are at Smith Middle School the faculty and staff take seriously the responsibility we have to help guide them through the many intellectual, social and emotional challenges of the early teen years. I can state with complete confidence that each faculty member is highly capable in meeting the needs of our students. More importantly, perhaps, is the fact that these teachers want to teach middle schoolers. In order to meet the needs of all students, our teachers differentiate instruction/assessments planning for success for all students regardless of their ability and background.

  Our ongoing theme for Smith is "Success for All" with the theme from the Premier Student Handbooks, "You've Got One Life…Make It Count." We are planning on this being an outstanding year. Thanks for reviewing this web page. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Our phone number is 786-2244 or e-mail me at jim_close@solanco.k12.pa.us.

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