New English teacher Kelly Smith is transitioning from teaching at a Class C1 school west of Beatrice to the suburbs and Elkhorn. Smith grew up in Trenton, NE. and married her high school sweetheart from their graduating class of ten.
After high school, Smith attended Fort Hays University in Kansas on a track scholarship. Smith’s husband then joined the Air Force and originally had orders to go to England, so in hopes of joining him overseas, Smith enlisted and continued her education through the Air Force.
Instead of England, her husband was stationed in North Dakota. Smith was on active duty for four years and then in the reserves for another four years.
“It sounds terrible, but it actually wasn’t that bad,” Smith said. “I saw a lot of people there who were in the military and that was what inspired me to join.”
While Smith enjoyed her time in the Air Force, she really wanted to be a teacher. Her inspiration came from her godmother, a kindergarten teacher for almost 40 years. As a kid, Smith would always join her godmother in August to set up her classroom.
“I always thought I was going to be a teacher from the time I was little,” Smith said. “I always thought I would teach elementary school because of her.”
Smith found her love of teaching through her godmother, but she chose to teach high school instead due to her love of the content.
“I really loved English and Social Studies,” Smith said. “I picked English because I love speech and theater.”
Smith started the speech team at Tri-County and coached it for 20 years. Smith also coached one act and boys track.
While Smith’s work life is very active, her home life is equally remarkable. Smith has six kids: four biological, one adopted, and one foster. Smith and her husband adopted their first son in Alaska when he was nine months old.
“My husband’s family is all from Alaska,” Smith said. “He’s my husband’s cousin biologically, so family tree wise they go the same direction.”
Two of Smith’s sons attend college in Kansas, and the other son is in the Air Force. Smith’s daughter is in her first year at Creighton and is on track to attend dental school.
Smith and her husband are also foster parents and their foster daughter will be in kindergarten next year.
“We have a really tight, great, almost family-like, bond with her grandparents,” Smith said. “It’s like having another set of grandparents. They are great.”
Smith originally intended to foster a sixteen-year-old as she hoped to help a child who was about to age out of the system. Smith has a friend who worked for the DHHS and when Smith mentioned she was interested in it, two weeks later Smith was presented with the opportunity to foster a 16-month-old for a couple of weeks.
“I was interested in foster care because I worry about the kids who are around 18,” Smith said. “They need someone to help them apply for colleges, jobs, and insurance.”
Smith has also housed seven foreign exchange students. Smith traveled to Europe and visited five of her previous exchange students this previous summer. While the students only lived with Smith for around a year, she shared that the bonds they formed practically made them family.
“It’s such a great experience,” Smith said. “I would recommend it to everybody, but I always tell everyone to host when you have older kids.”
Besides teaching, and taking care of her children, Smith loves to travel.
“I started taking kids to New York City and Boston for one act,” Smith said. “I’ve taken groups to France, New Zealand, Australia, Greece, Italy and Fiji.”
Smith is looking forward to leading the speech team and one-act team to success at Elkhorn North.
“I worked hard coaching at my old school and we had a lot of success,” Smith said. I’ve coached state champions and medalists and I’m excited to do the same here.”
You can email Mrs. Smith @[email protected] to get more information about Speech and One-Act
