Samuel J. Smith is Associate Professor and Director of the School Administration Licensure Program at Liberty University. Prior to coming to Liberty, Dr. Smith served on the faculty of Mid-America Christian University and Belhaven 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) he has served as a consultant to developing schools, accreditation team member, Florida regional council member, and featured speaker at teacher conventions. 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 completed post-baccalaureate studies at Houston Baptist University (History Education). 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)
Publications
Case Studies: Developing Decision-making Skills in Diverse Simulated Environments, In J. Tareilo & B. Bizzell (Eds.), Handbook of Virtual Online Instruction and Programs in Education Leadership. Houston, TX: NCPEA Press. ISBN: 978-1-4507-7264-1 (2012)
Traditional print case studies have been a long-standing instructional strategy for educational leadership preparation programs....
Establishing Special Education Programs: Experiences of Christian School Principals (with Gary Cookson), Journal of Research on Christian Education (2012)
This phenomenological study investigated the experiences of principals who initiated special education programs in Christian...
Death of a Child, Popular Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling (2011)
Of the possible losses one might experience, the death of a child is among the...
The Role of Controversial Issues in Moral Education: Approaches and Attitudes of Christian School Educators, Journal of the International Christian Community for Teacher Education (2011)
This study investigated the approaches and attitudes of Christian school teachers as they addressed controversial...
Preservice Second-Career Teachers in a Blended Online-Residential Preparation Program: Profiling Characteristics and Motivations (with John J. Pantana), The Teacher Educators’ Journal (2010)
This study examined preservice second-career teachers (SCTs), their motivations for switching careers, and their perceptions...
Presentations
Death of a Student: Navigating a School through Grief, Association of Christian Schools International (2011)
When a school family experiences the loss of a student, there are many issues to...
Susan Miller Dorsey (1857-1946): Trailblazer for Women School Superintendents (with Joseph Steven Strickland), National Council for Professors of Educational Administration (2011)
Though women are increasingly breaking the glass ceiling into the position of school superintendent, the...
Effects of School-wide Positive Behavior Support Programs on Teacher Morale (with William A. Royal), National Council of Professors of Educational Administration Annual Summer Conference (2010)
The effect of School Wide Positive Behavior Support (SW-PBS) on teacher morale was examined using...
Preservice Second-Career Teachers in a Blended Online-Residential Preparation Program: Profiling Characteristics and Motivations (with John J. Pantana), American Educational Research Association (2010)
This study examines preservice second-career teachers (SCTs), their motivations for switching careers, and their perceptions...
In The Middle: Teaching the Preadolescent, Association of Christian Schools International (2009)
An overview of the characteristics and issues related to pre-adolescents and their implications for educational...