"One of my personal responsibilities as an educator is to never stop being a student," said Daniel Smith, the Cumberland County Schools' 2022 Teacher of the Year.
When faced with the limitations of virtual learning, Smith seized the moment and opened the door to an entire world of opportunities for himself, his students and his peers, said a spokesman for the school district. Smith serves as chairman of the Social Studies Department at Westover High School.
“I listen to my students; they often have more insight than we give them credit for,” Smith wrote in his nomination portfolio.
The announcement of Smith as this year’s Teacher of the Year winner was made during the district’s virtual celebration event, themed: The Great Comeback: Defying All Odds to Educate Each Child. Smith started his teaching career with Cumberland County Schools in 2014 after graduating from State University of New York (SUNY) at Old Westbury.
Pictured: Daniel Smith (center) from Westover High School, was named the 2022 Teacher of the Year. (Photo courtesy CCS)