J.W. Smith Elementary School

JW Smith is a small, 'inner city' school, with outstanding staff. In Bemidji, there are a number of elementary schools, which are newer and sport a fancy appearance, yet these schools lack the spirit that JW Smith has. When my children began there, they were both scared and worried about what their environment would be like. My son had such a low self-esteem, due to all the bullying he had endured at a different, up-scale elementary school, in town. What I watched was nothing shy of a miracle. My son's teacher worked with him and over the course of a couple months, my son completely blossomed and became one of the most sought out people in his class. His teachers worked on his confidence, helping him to see how much he excelled in various areas. His gifts were not only noticed, but acted upon and they sought out ways to help him flourish. My daughter's story is also a testimony to the quality of education provided at J.W. Smith. My daughter struggles with reading, as she has a visual disability. Early on, I spoke to her teachers about my concerns for her. They didn't blow me off, but rather, took time to explain to me how they would watch her and evaluate her as she developed. By first grade, it was finally time to get her some screaning. This was an emotional time for me, and the staff took the time to help me with my fears and concerns. They talked to me at length and explained the evaluation process. My anxiety was lowered ten-fold. Through collaborative work between school officials, doctors and myself, we were able to come up with a diagnosis for my daughter and get her the services she would need to start succeeding in reading. My daughter has to work very hard, and there is endless support for her. When she feels frustrated, she has staff members right there, ready to cheer her on and help her see that she is so much more than just a lable or a diagnosis. She is extremely creative, so they started a young writer's club where the kids can get help putting their ideas into stories. They help the students who struggle with reading and spelling to focus on their creative gift, while assisting them with their grammer and the technical aspects of writing. There is no tollerance of teasing children or puttting them down. All and all, my daughter's confidence in herself continues to grow and her belief that she can eventually catch up to her peers grows stronger, as her skills improve. When she first started, she could barely read a single word. Now, she is in fourth grade and is almost caught up with her grade level. I have no doubt that my daughter will continue on to become a strong reader. The staff at this school truly nurture the children and encourage them to spread their wings and take flight in the direction of their dreams. I would recommend this school to everyone. It is schools like this, which truly embrace the ideals of the education system... where young minds are fed and nourished, encouraged to grow and develop, as well as believe in their ability to create success in their own life.
--Submitted by a parent