Dr. Crystal Smith has been hired by Calhoun County Schools to work as a special education teacher at Arnoldsburg Elementary and Calhoun Middle schools.
She graduated from Fayetteville High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Concord Col-lege in elementary educa-tion, multi-subject (K-8).
She also received a master’s degree from Marshall University in multi-categorical special education, including autism, K-adult, and an education doctorate from West Virginia University in special education/personnel preparation, with a concentration in instructional design and technology.
Smith has a combined 16 years of teaching experience: four in elementary schools, four in middle schools, two in high schools, and two years GED in a federal prison.
She also has four years of experience teaching at the collegiate level: three at Fairmont State University and one at Glenville State College.
At Fairmont. she and a colleague developed and co-directed the AIMSS (Autism Individualized Mentoring and Support Services) program for college students on the autism spectrum.
Smith is eager to begin her work in Calhoun County: “(I) look forward to getting to know new colleagues, students, and parents.” She is looking forward to a great school year.
She and her husband have resided in Gilmer County since 2005. She is the mother of three children, Layla (11), Cody (7), and Ivy (21 months).
The two older children are involved in Little Pioneer sports (football, cheerleading, wrestling and basketball). They also play baseball and softball in a Gilmer recreation league, and her daughter plays for Crush, a traveling softball team.
Crystal played softball and soccer while attending Concord and her husband played football.
The family enjoys summers on the lakes and rivers kayaking. They also enjoy traveling, camping, fishing and gatherings with family and friends.