Choral music director, Personnel Policy Committee chairman and now district Teacher of the Year.
Kourtney Smith wears all these hats in the Pine Bluff School District, which announced him as the winner of the Mary Frances Perkins Teacher of the Year at a banquet Tuesday night at the Arkansas River Education Service Cooperative.
Smith was chosen from among eight campus teachers of the year for the district honor. He received the trophy from 2023 winner Virginia Humphrey-Gulley, a $1,000 check from Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree, and goodies from Tipton & Hurst Shepherd florists.
“No words. I’m just grateful,” Smith said. “That’s all I’ve got.”
It’s safe to say Smith has enjoyed a very productive month. A few weeks ago, he took members of Pine Bluff High School’s choir to Chicago for a music festival, and the singers brought back a first-place Superior rating in the mixed chorus division.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The victory was a remarkable accomplishment for a group that began the school year bringing together voices from his alma mater and previous workplace, Dollarway High, and Pine Bluff High. But there were no challenges in making that happen, Smith said.
“I guess I have a people-person personality, so if I can get the kids, meet with them and talk with them, I usually can win them over,” he explained. “So, it’s been a joy in being able to merge this and make magic happen through music. It’s something our kids love, and it’s something some of our kids don’t know they’re good at until they find out, ‘Hey, I’m actually all right at this.’ [It’s a matter of] just identifying some of the hidden talents they don’t even know.”
Ronald Laurent, Pine Bluff High’s assistant principal who will take the helm of principal for 2024-25, said Smith’s district award was well deserved.
“I’ve never walked into his choir room without him having some activity for the students,” he said. “He is a very dedicated teacher. He puts students first, but he also loves what he does. Because he loves what he does, it paid off in the end.”
Smith’s secret to success, by his description, is simple.
“I just show up to work and do what I’m supposed to do, what I’m called to do,” he said. “I just want to make sure I am to my kids what they need the most. Whatever that means for me — the Bible says Paul said ‘I became all things to all men that I may win,’ and I live by that philosophy. That’s all I try to do. I just want our kids to experience a world-class education.”
Other campus teachers of the year include Tomeka Smith of Forrest Park/Greenville Pre-K, Darnesia Carter of Broadmoor Elementary, Chianti Evans of 34th Avenue Elementary, Kendria Jones of Pine Bluff Junior High Ninth Grade Academy, Debra McNeely of Southwood Elementary, Tammie Russell of PBJH (grades 7-8) and Matthew Jimerson of James Matthews Elementary.
Elouise Shorter, the 2022 PBSD Teacher of the Year and state semifinalist, delivered the keynote address, referring to all the campus honorees as their “Majesty” for the honor they bring to the profession.
Pine Bluff High School choral music director Kourtney Smith (left) receives a $1,000 check and award from Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree. (Pine Bluff Commercial/I.C. Murrell)