District four school board member Noah Smith shares a letter of encouragement and appreciation as the first semester winds down.   Dear Teachers, Students, Administrators, and Staff,

Congratulations! You have almost made it through the fall semester of the 2018-2019 school year. Take a deep breath and be proud of the
accomplishments you have achieved over the past several months. Take time to reflect and know that what you are doing is amazing! Your hard work and determination have not gone unnoticed, and I want to personally say thank you. Thank you for getting up every morning and giving it your very best to learn and to educate. Thank you for your grit during hard times, your persistence when learning or educating is difficult, and your unrivaled dedication in ensuring an environment of academic excellence and robust learning.

To the teachers of Campbell County, thank you! Thank you for your determination in ensuring that our students are educated in the best way and are equipped for higher learning and life. It is because of you that our students are able to learn in an environment of robust and excellent learning. I want each of you to know that your hard work is shown every day in the way our students learn and thrive in our school system. Do not get discouraged along your path, because each of you is single-highhandedly responsible for building the next generation of American workers and scholars. You are loved and cherished and your grit is unmatched. Even when teaching hits a rough patch, just remember that what you are doing will directly change the world and impact an incalculable amount of students and their future. Keep up the excellent work, because what you are doing is absolutely amazing and inspiring.

To the students of Campbell County, keep pressing forward! Do not stop pushing forward to better learning and continue to strive to reach your goals. I want each of you to know that a bad grade on an assignment, a missed word on a spelling test, a low grade on a reading assignment, a miscalculation on a math problem, a low ACT score, etc., does not determine your worth, value, or future. These things mean nothing in the larger scope of what you will accomplish in life. Do not be discouraged or dismayed; you gave it your all and that is all you can do. Your drive and determination to acquire more learning have not gone unnoticed. Your many accomplishments and successes are inspiring and encouraging. You are awesome and your love for learning is outstanding. Keep pressing forward and take to heart the words of Orison Swett Marden, “All who have accomplished great things have
had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.” Keep up the great work!

To the staff and administrators of the Campbell County School System, thank you for your commitment to ensuring that our teachers and students feel
loved and accepted in our many learning environments. Your commitment to ensuring our schools are open every morning, cleaned every day, and are a
place of robust learning are outstandingly appreciated. Thank you for always having a smile on your face and making sure our students’ and teachers’ needs are met. Keep doing what you are doing, because I can’t thank you enough.

Since my election to the Campbell County School Board, I have been blessed to visit numerous schools, and what you all are doing is extraordinary. I am
blessed and honored to be able to serve each of you, and I am so very excited about the many years ahead. You all are the reason I ran, and my love for our schools grows more and more every day. Keep doing amazing things, because I am beyond thankful for all of the work each of you do. I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Enjoy this break, because you all deserve it. I can’t wait to see each of you when we return in January to continue the learning experience. If I can ever do anything, please do not hesitate to reach out!

*Noah Smith*
*Campbell County School Board Member*

*4th District*

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