Looking around the room at the familiar faces, former English teacher Katrina Mabry-Smith thinks back to just a year ago when she was teaching these same students how to write a good essay. Now, Smith has taken on an entirely new role.

“Ever since I arrived at the school, I’ve been made part of the AVID sight team and had a chance to go to the different workshops,” she said. “The program is phenomenal. It pulls on your heart strings when you see the success stories and you finally see the students walk across the stage.”

After former AVID Coordinator Dequita Fisher transferred to Asa Low Intermediate, Smith was selected for the position.

“Teaching AVID at three different levels, requires a lot of organization and transitions,” she said. “It is going to be challenging, but very beneficial for me.”

Smith said she is still passionate about teaching.

“I love students; they’re my favorite part about teaching,” she said. “I’ve taught at every grade level, but high-schoolers are the absolute best.”

To help students succeed in the program, she plans to use her experience as a parent.

“I’m a mother of four, so I am really patient,” Smith said. “That helps with walking students through the AVID process.”

Smith, who won the teacher of the year award last year, said her English degree will be a big help.

“My background helps with essay writing, making sure students answer questions in complete sentences and they follow the grammar guidelines that most colleges would appreciate,” she said.

Junior Kameron McDowell is returning to AVID.

“I expect to prepare for the SAT,” he said. “I want Ms. Smith to prepare us so we can get the best score we can. The higher (up) the score, the more money the (college) will give (us).”

The class is made-up of a wide variety of students, McDowell said.

“I want Ms. Smith to know that we (AVID as a group) are all a unique family,” he said.

The transition will take time, Smith said.

“My style of teaching is different from Fisher’s in that she had a stronger bond with the students,” she said. “My style is a little bit different because I’m working to build that trust and build those relationships (with them).”

Smith said that she is excited to become a part of the AVID family.

“You cannot help but love the students in AVID,” she said. “There couldn’t be a better group.”

Despite the challenges, Smith said she remains positive about her new role.

“I know I have big shoes to fill,” she said. “But I’m willing to make sure that the kids in AVID are loved and supported and know that they matter to me.”