His days are spent strolling around the Darien High School campus in a yellow top and either khaki shorts or pants depending on the weather. Most likely he knows your name, and addresses you with it whenever you encounter one another in the hallways. There is always a smile on his face waiting to make your day. He is Jim Smith, the campus monitor.
Mr. Smith has been with the high school for the past five years and has enjoyed every day he spends on campus. Mr. Smith’s previous occupation is completely different than his job now,I was the assistant treasurer for the fourth largest gas company in the world. I was in charge of the US operations so I handled all of the cash, investments, and pensions on a daily basis.” Mr. Smith adored his past job but when the company was moving he decided that it was time for a profession change and that was when he stumbled across an opportunity to be a campus monitor at Darien High School.
The highlight of Mr. Smith’s day is most definitely the students, My favorite part of my day is the interaction I have with the students, and it really is fun.” Mr. Smith successfully connects with the students as he knows nearly everyone’s name in the building. Mr. Smith goes beyond just knowing names, “I talk with the students to find out what they like and dislike and what they are interested in whether it is sports or theatre.”
Both Mr. Smith and the students at DHS enjoy the daily interactions with one another.
There is a common theme throughout all the students at Darien High school when Mr. Jim Smith’s name is brought up: he makes every day at school better. Every time you see Jim he puts a smile on your face,” says senior Cammie Kirby.
Not only is Mr. Jim Smith dedicated to making students days during school, he can be seen supporting the Blue Wave in various sporting events, regularly taking pictures for the schools yearbook, “Jim came to every field hockey game home and away. It just shows what a dedicated guy he is, it’s so nice to have that type of support in school” says senior field hockey player Marguerite Morgan.
It is a tribute to Mr. Smith’s profession besides being friendly to the students; Mr. Smith does a great job with protecting our school. Sophomore Ward Pankowski puts a comical spin on Mr. Smith that goes beyond the terms of being influential in the DHS community, “He’s laying down his life every day to protect us and our right to learn in a safe environment”
Mr. Jim Smith’s true personality is exemplified when he describes, “The most rewarding part of my job is seeing the students succeed.” The always positive attitude that Mr. Jim Smith brings to the DHS hallways proves that he is among the most influential men of Darien High School.
Read about how Jim guards the parking lot at DHS from this Neirad article from October of 2009
