Dr. Samuel J. Smith is presently an Associate Professor of Education and coordinates the School Administration Licensure Program at Liberty University. He holds degrees from Oklahoma State University (Ed.D. Curriculum and Instruction), Grace College (M.A. School Administration), and Mid-America Christian University (B.A. English). He did post-baccalaureate studies at Houston Baptist University (History Education). Prior to joining the LU faculty, Dr. Smith served as Assistant Professor of Teacher Education at Mid-America Christian University. He also taught in both public and private K-12 schools and was administrator of schools in Texas and Florida. With Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Dr. Smith has consulted developing schools, served as an accreditation team member, and sat on the regional council for the state of Florida. Together with his wife Sonja, also an educator, he enjoys music, theater, reading, the beach, and time with family. Research Interests: Learning Theory Character Education Educational Leadership History Education English Education Second Career Teachers (Career Switchers)
Articles
Called to Teach: Interpreting the Phenomenon of Calling as a Motivating Factor (with Jared T. Bigham), Life@School -- publication of the International Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (2008)
This hermeneutic phenomenological study examines the phenomenon of the calling to teach. Nine participants were...
Navigating Religious Rights of Teachers and Students: Establishment, Accommodation, Neutrality, or Hostility?, Christian Perspectives in Education (2008)
Despite the notion that First Amendment rights are established, valued, and respected in the United...
Developing Decision Making Using Online Contextualized Case Studies, International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation (2008)
Educational Theory into Practice Software (ETIPS) is an online case study program in the testbed...
The Transition from Practitioner to Professor: The Struggle of New Faculty to Find Their Place in the World of Academia (with Gary Kinsey, J. Craig Coleman, Effie Christie, Mary Culver, Deborah Erickson, John Hunt, Frankie Williams, and Janet Tareilo), Education Leadership Review (2006)
Becoming a college professor brings both the feeling of self-accomplishment and discernment regarding this prestigious...
The Role of Controversial Issues in Moral Education: Approaches and Attitudes of Christian School Educators, Faculty Dissertations (2000)
Contributions to Books
McGuffey Readers, Encyclopedia of Educational Reform and Dissent (2009)
With over 122 million copies sold from 1838 to 1920, the McGuffey Eclectic Readers taught...
New England Primer, Encyclopedia of Educational Reform and Dissent (2009)
For more than 150 years the New England Primer, often called The Little Bible of...
Pestalozzianism, Encyclopedia of Educational Reform and Dissent (2009)
The Pestalozzian movement of the 19th century represented the ideas of Swiss educator Johann Heinrich...
Presentations
Developing Decision Making Using Online Contextualized Case Studies, National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (2008)
This session will present an online case study program in the testbed stage of development...
Help! I have to write a Philosophy Paper for ACSI Certification!, Association of Christian Schools International (2007)
Convention Program Description: How are society and our schools influenced by ideologues? What makes some...
Learning Styles in the World of Christopher Robin: Uncovering Layers that Affect Learning, Association of Christian Schools International (2007)
Convention Program Description: Learning styles are like onions, they have layers. We will attempt to...
Making the Grade: Practical Tips for Improving the Fairness of Student Grades, Association of Christian Schools International (2007)
Convention Program Description: Learn practical suggestions to enhance the validity of your grading procedures. A...
Reading It but Not Getting It: Increasing Reading Comprehension in the Content Areas, Association of Christian Schools International (2007)
DESCRIPTION: As content area teachers, we find ourselves working with students of multiple reading levels....