Apex High Gains a New Administrator for the 2016-2017 School Year

Amelia Borger & Jessica Stiehm
Staff Writer and News Editor

         Apex High has gained a handful of new staff this year, including Rodney Smith, a new assistant principal. Mr. Smith came from Apex Middle after administrating there for three years. Education has always been a big part of his life, a sentiment that he owes to his mother, who he considers to be the biggest influence in his life. By the end of his high school career he became the Salutatorian of his class. He has attended the University of Virginia, North Carolina Central University, Gardner Webb University, and hopes to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for his Doctorate in education. He is an avid Tarheel fan as his wife attended the school.

         When asked what his goal is as an administrator, he said, “I want to build relationships and become a [positive] influence on students.” One of his most memorable experiences as an administrator happened last year at the class of 2016’s graduation ceremony. Seeing the students accomplish their most important moment in their high school career was indescribable. Mr. Smith has had a variety of jobs since his high school career. Starting off at McDonald's like most teenagers at the time, he soon moved up to a job in retail at Circuit City, a big-box electrical company that has gone out of business. When he graduated from college, he began as a teacher, teaching students one-on-one. From there, he decided he wanted to work on “the other side of the desk”,” and has since become an administrator.
         In his spare time, Mr. Smith loves to read, play sports, and spend time with his wife and daughter. If he was not working as an administrator now, he would become a golf swing coach, even though he has never played the sport. Mr. Smith is certainly a valuable addition to the administration staff.