By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The “Coaches in the Classroom” feature is a weekly series that spotlights and celebrates coaches throughout Portage County, who spend their days in the classrooms and hallways leading today’s student-athletes to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today’s spotlight is on Southeast High School’s Linda Smith, who is the Gifted Intervention Specialist for the district for grades Kindergarten through fifth grade and is also the school’s high school girls tennis coach.

• How long have you taught at Southeast?: 18 years.
• Classes taught?: I have been a 5th grade Intervention Specialist and am currently the Gifted Intervention Specialist for grades K-5.
• What made you want to become an educator?: My first grade teacher was so patient and made learning fun.
• What is your favorite part of your job?: Watching the kids get excited as they learn they can do hard things.
• What have you learned about being an educator that you didn’t know before you started?: Take joy in the small wins each day.
• Which teachers influenced you to go into education?: My parents were both teachers, along with my first grade teacher.
• How do you apply some of your coaching in the classroom?: Build relationships first, then start with the basics. Hone those skills before moving on to more advanced skills.
• How do you apply some of your classroom to your coaching?: Building relationships with the girls on the team and my kids in the classroom helps to build trust and confidence in both situations. Make laerning as fun as possible, while still challenging them.
• Mentors in your building who have helped you along the way?: I have had several wonderful mentors who have helped and supported me in my years at Southeast.