By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

                Retiring Bronson Middle High School agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor Marcia Smith is well known as an instructor who inspires her students and often forms lifelong bonds with them.

            Smith was honored at a banquet recently celebrating her 35-year career in agriculture education including her first 8 years at Sante Fe High School and her final 27 years at BMHS.

            “One of her former students that she had at Santa Fe drove 200 miles to be at the banquet just to see her. That’s the kind of lasting relationship that Ms. Smith has cultivated,” said Superintendent Chris Cowart.

            Smith, this year’s Levy County School District Teacher of the Year, has seen a lot of her students rise to prominence in the FFA as state officers including Jamie Jerrels and Sarah Trimm Boles.

            Boles won the Taylor County School District Teacher of the Year as an agriculture instructor and FFA advisor in 2021.

            “I think that speaks a lot; one of Ms. Smith’s students is District Teacher of the Year and has grown and was a state officer,” Cowart said. “Hunter Fugate, a nephew has also been a state officer.”

            Brothers Kelby and Ty Barber, both of whom passed through Smith’s agricultural program are now the agriculture instructors at BMHS. Kelby took over the high school agriculture program and advises the Sr. FFA Chapter and Ty teaches middle school agriculture and advises the Jr. Chapter.

            Smith also won the prestigious Belinda G. Chason Legacy Program Award this year, a state honor. The award celebrates Smith’s excellence in agriculture education in the classroom, the student land lab, in supervised agriculture activities, and as an FFA advisor.

            “I can’t think of how fitting it is for Ms. Smith as District Teacher of the Year and also retiring to receive that Belinda Chason Award. Ms. Chason – what a legacy she left,” Cowart said.

            Smith was honored at the Levy County School Board meeting Tuesday as the recipient of the Belinda G. Chason Legacy Program Award.

            She was introduced by Carol Jones-Dubois, the retiring coordinator of the Career and Technical Education program in Levy County. Jones-Dubois has worked as a teacher and administrator for 38 years in the Levy County School District.

            Smith said she and Jones will probably have time to chat about the district in their retirement.

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School Board of Levy County Regular Meeting May 25, 2021; Posted May 29, 2021