Joel Smith is this school year’s new assistant principal and athletic director.
Smith was previously at Pleasant Hill High School. He has worked in education for seven years, as well as in advertising and coaching before becoming our assistant principal and athletic director.
Falcon News met with Assistant Principal Smith to get to know him better.
Question: What is your favorite thing about this school?
Answer: “I really like the culture of adults.”
Q: What is the most challenging part of your new job?
A: “Time management and the duties of being the athletic director and vice principal.”
Q: How would you describe this school?
A: “All the students are very respectful and the athletes all have potential, and there is structure here and rules that everyone mostly follows. A place where all people are welcome, and in athletics we could be a lot better than we think we are, and all the adults have been very helpful and welcoming.”
Q: How would you describe your old school?
A: “Similar to here in a lot of ways, population size is the same. They had 6th grade to 12th grade and it was hard to make rules for 11 year-olds and 18 year-olds. “
Q: Do you miss anything from your old school?
A: “I miss the kids and the connections and conversations that I had with the kids.”
Q: What are your current goals for this school?
A: “To make everybody involved and to make people feel like they matter, and for athletics to be better. For people to be proud to be a Falcon.”
Q: What would you do if you won the lottery?
A: “We would fix the school and I would coach. Buy some sports cards, play golf, go to a beach.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: “I will be working in education, whether that’s being a coach, athletic director, or a vice principal.”
Q: Where do you see this school in 5 years?
A: “I see this school as a positive place to be, better athletic facilities, people look forward to coming to school.”
Q: What is your daily routine?
A: “I come in and meet with whoever is standing outside my door, and I try to do athletic stuff as long as I can, then discipline whatever I have to during the day.”
Q: Where did you go to high school?
A: “I went to Crescent Valley for the first two years of high school then went to Sheldon and graduated, then went to Oregon state.”
Q: What sports did you do in high school?
A: “I played football, basketball, and baseball. “
Q: Have you ever heard of this high school? What did you think about it?
A: “Yeah I knew Coach Peeler for a while, and I knew that Elmira had a lot of good athletes here.”
