Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Smithey To Head New Program At Gurdon Schools

Charles Failla, assistant high school principal and co-grantee, had stated when the $467,760 federal grant was awarded, "The director is the key to getting the whole thing to work."

Jean Smithey, Cabe Middle School educator has been chosen to be director of the Prime Time Project.

Along with an advisory board answering to her, Smithey will be the force in implementing summer and weekend school programs, and communicating with all the volunteer groups, service organizations, state and county agencies, grantees, parents and students involved.

Jeff Alexander, Cabe Middle School principal had this to say, "Jean Smithey has worked for the Gurdon Public School System for the past six and half years. She is a great asset to our school. She is very up to date on current issues concerning teacher strategies and curriculum. Mrs. Smithey gives up a lot of her free time to better the lives of our students: working after school tutoring, writing grants, taking students on field trips, attending workshops and taking students to events that they would not otherwise be able to attend."

"She has people skills and the ability to draw from many resources to help achieve her goals. She gets a lot of production our of students that are considered at risk. But first and formost she has a genuine concern not only for her students, but for her coworkers and associates," conveyed Alexander.

Rita Roe, Gurdon Primary School principal and co-grantee, commented on Mrs. Smithey talents, "I know she's going to do a good job. She has a reputation for working well with parents and students. She builds students up. Also, Mrs. Smithey is bilingual which is a good asset to the project."

Roe continued conveying Smithey's enthusiasm with the project beginning April 1.