Members of the Board

Adam Smith, Director

Certifications

Idaho Educator Certificate, EDUID #642887546. All Subjects K-8. 8/31/2027
Professional Teacher License, ID #300656. Elementary Education (K-6). 3/16/2026
Spanish: Spoken and written. Able to converse and provide student support.

Education

  • Master of Education, Curriculum and Instruction, University of Idaho, 2022.

    • Member Phi Kappa Phi, GPA 4.0.

  • Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, 2001.

  • Associate Degree in Arts and Sciences, BYU Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho, 1998.

Experience

  • Educator 2021-Present. Fort Hall Elementary School, Fort Hall Reservation, Idaho.
    Currently teach fifth grade in a self-contained classroom. Assess student skills, talents, capabilities, and differentiate instruction to meet various academic levels. Coordinate with interventionist, special education, and paraprofessionals to foster student growth. Incorporate STEAM strategies daily to engage students and encourage participation. Work to build student self-esteem and aid the discovery of personal and academic potential. Created musical multiplication system designed to teach and remediate mathematical skills. Over eighty percent of students have exceeded district academic growth requirements for math this year, and over ninety percent in reading. Wrote, directed, and emceed fifth grade graduation ceremonies, including a musical number.

    • Secured over $10,000 for 24 students and 10 chaperones to attend fifth grade graduation field trip. Worked with Lillian Vallely Youth Foundation, Fort Hall Police Department, and other donors. Responsible for grant writing, sponsorships, and proposals needed to raise necessary funds. Solicited and received approval from school board, aligned activities to state academic standards. Worked with families and other tribal members to build trust and rapport.

    • Facilitator Summer 2023. Idaho National Laboratory Summer STEM program, Idaho Falls, ID. Designed to further augment student skills, and engender interest in entering the science/technology sector.

  • Educator, 2019-2021. Blackfoot Charter Community Learning Center, Blackfoot, ID.
    Taught all fourth grade Math and Science classes, in addition to an intensive Writing class. Worked with kids in-person, and remotely/online. Designed standards-based curriculum and strategies to ensure fourth grade requirements were met. Worked to remediate missing academic skills due to Covid-19 crisis. Held intervention classes after school, in an effort to engender communication between students and parents regarding instructional strategies. Developed pneumonic devices to help students cement curricular understanding.

    • Facilitated Math Night, an after-school intervention on campus, designed to help parents and students with strategies and curriculum.

    • Organized fundraising efforts for students to attend multiple field trips prior to Covid-19 crisis.

  • Educator, 2005-2011. Buena Vista Arts-integrated School, Montclair, CA. Iowa Elementary, Aurora, CO. Taught third through sixth grades. Title 1 student population.

    • California STAR Test results included student Math scores at the top of the district for final four years, as well as Language Arts for last three of four years.

    • Integrated Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, English Language Development, and Music into daily lessons.

    • Implemented Literature Circles designed to cultivate literary involvement and comprehension skills, as well as cooperative learning.

    • Activity-oriented, humor-based classroom environment, focused on building integrity and student confidence.

    • Participated in school intervention programs for over seven years, offering academic assistance to students of various achievement levels.

    • Co-authored a grant proposal that netted funds over $8,000 for financially challenged sixth grade students to attend camp for a school week.

    • Acquired $2,000 for scholarships and classroom library materials.

    • Led GATE committee for two years, served four years at two different campuses.

    • Previous member of the California Mathematics and Science Partnership program, formerly sponsored by the California Department of Education.

    • Co-Lead Student Council Committee for one year, coordinating funding and programs.

Community Involvement and Interests

  • Volunteered as financial coach at Denver Rescue Mission in Ready to Rent program. (October through December 2018.)

  • Created student musical groups The Stickinators, 6 th Grade U, The Fantastic Five, and BV Rockers, which performed a cappella vocals and musical parodies. Led dozens of student performances at multiple school sites.

  • Classically trained tenor, with various public performances, including Jean Valjean in a small production of Les Misérables.