Shippensburg University selected Steve Smith, an experienced school administrator, as the new director of Grace B. Luhrs University Elementary School (GBLUES) in August.
Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in school administration and supervision from the University of Virginia. Prior to relocating to Shippensburg, Smith was the former acting principal of Big Spring High School. Before that, he was the principal of Oak Flat Elementary School.
Jim Johnson, dean of the College of Education and Human Services, selected Smith for the position.
As Smith adjusts to his position as director, he plans to be actively involved with current faculty and students. He also hopes to uphold the rapport that is expected of his position. Smith does not wish to make any changes to the current curriculum that is set between the school and SU at this time.
GBLUES is the last lab school on a state university’s campus and also the last public lab school in Pennsylvania. That fact makes Smith even more excited to be the new appointed director. Smith has a strong belief in what the university wants to achieve by giving university students on-site experience, allowing them to enhance their knowledge while working toward their selected degree.
He wants to continue what he calls “thriving factors,” which make the school great. This includes the ability for university students to have hands-on experience with everyday contact and scenarios with young children. It provides elementary students, university students and faculty with an opportunity to teach and learn from one another.
It also provides them with a chance to establish connections with each other and families. Smith wishes to maintain and uphold the standards of the last lab school in Pennsylvania; a topic in which he is adamantly passionate.
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