Desmond A. Smith

My Ties to Mathews

I have lived in Mathews for 38 years. My mother is originally from Mathews, and then she moved to Baltimore. She wanted me to have the same opportunities as she had growing up in Mathews, so we moved here, and I graduated with an advanced diploma from Mathews High School in 1999.

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I attended Averett College University in Danville, Virginia, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts. I began teaching special education in Mathews, and I have been working in education ever since.

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I have many godchildren in the Mathews and Gloucester area, and I want to ensure that they receive a quality education and have the encouragement of a supportive community.

 

Why I Am Running

I had great teachers and mentors growing up, and I wanted to pay that back. When I was approached to run for my first term on the School Board, it was a dream come true for me. Serving on the School Board and then becoming the Vice Chair and then School Board Chair have been worthwhile challenges for me. There are many things the School Board hopes to accomplish, but I am most interested in bringing some balance to the Board, so we can assess the needs of our school system and work to find solutions.

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To be competitive, we need our school system to offer the same or better facilities that surrounding counties do, such as athletic facilities with a quality track, for example. Our county produces many individual state champions. Imagine what they could achieve as a team if they had the proper place to train and compete.

 

What Makes Me a Good Candidate

I have worked in education for many years, and taught at the elementary, middle, high school, and community college levels, in both public and private schools, including a boarding school. I feel that my extensive background provides me excellent insights into the challenges that our students and teachers face.

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I want to remind the citizens of Mathews how we have always come together to pay it forward, and we need to continue to do that for our young people.

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As Chair of the School Board now, I run the School Board meetings and work with the Superintendent to develop an agenda. The School Board also collaborates with the Board of Supervisors, particularly when it comes to budget planning. The School Board pitches its budget ideas and needs to the Board of Supervisors. I have worked hard to make sure the Board of Supervisors has a clear picture of the needs of the school system’s budget.

 

My Community Involvement 

I am an associate minister as well as a youth minister at Emmaus Baptist Church. I have served as a Virginia-certified Career Coach for 4 years. I also am the head coach for the tennis team, and assistant coach for the football and basketball teams at Christ Church Boarding School.

 

What the Candidate Team Can Do for Mathews

Our School Board needs more collaboration and leadership. Our county is divided, and we need to provide a clear direction forward. My time on the School Board has taught me that each of us only has one vote, so we must work together as a strong team to accomplish our goals.

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The Mathews Citizens for the Common Good’s approach relies on teamwork. As a coach, I love the idea—it goes along with everything that I believe in. We all bring different skills plus diverse thoughts and ideas to the table, and together, we can successfully see Mathews County grow and excel.