Candidate: Aaron Smith

Although I’ve spent over 20 years as an educator, my number one job is a father of three amazing children who attend schools in Clay County (W.E. Cherry, Orange Park Junior High, and Orange Park High School). There isn’t a day that goes by when my wife and I aren’t grateful for the amazing instruction, support, and love my children receive every day from the teachers and staff at their schools. Having spent over a decade in the classroom as a math and language arts teacher before moving on to other roles as an educator, I understand the hard work, celebrations, and challenges of showing up to school every day ready and willing to do whatever it takes to make sure all students have the opportunities they deserve to be successful. My children come home loved, respected, celebrated, and more knowledgeable every day, and we couldn’t ask for more than that.

Upon graduating from the University of Akron in 1996, my classroom teaching career took me to Alabama and Ohio before settling in Florida in 2003. After four more years teaching math at First Coast High School in Duval County, I began a new chapter as an educator and have served as a curriculum specialist in Duval County, a member of the Florida Department of Education’s Bureau of School Improvement, a district administrator in Polk County, and most recently as a Director of Instructional Support at Instruction Partners, a non-profit organization designed to work shoulder to shoulder with educators in schools all around the country. I’ve spent time in hundreds of schools and thousands of classrooms since 2007. I’ve stood in front of the State Board of Education and defended the hard work of teachers. I’ve led curriculum adoption and implementation cycles, managed multi-million dollar budgets, served on state assessment and standards review committees, co-authored textbooks, and developed and implemented district strategic plans. 

First and foremost, I am a teacher and a learner at heart. Regardless of the roles and responsibilities of the different paths my career has taken, I always keep two things in mind. The first is what is in the best interest of children? The second is what can I do in my role to clear the way for teachers and schools to make that happen. Quite frankly, that is easier said than done, but it’s always been and continues to be my charge to myself in whatever work that I do. Several years back while working for FLDOE’s Bureau of School improvement, I walked into an Algebra classroom during first period. The teacher looked up at me and said, “Oh, hey Aaron! They told me ‘the State’ was going to be here today. I didn’t know it was just you.” Thinking about what it’s really like to support teachers in the work they do, that is one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received, and I’ve carried that with me ever since. 

At the end of the day, I look at my career and am proud to have spent my time working in the background in support and celebration of amazing educators. On the other hand, I’ve spent all that time in service of children other than my own. My experiences as an educator have prepared me for this moment, and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and dive into the work with everyone in the schools and community of Clay County.