Letter to the editor

I first met Matthew Smith in academic year 2010. He and his family (his wife is a native Iowan) moved Des Moines from Texas, where he had been a principal in a West Texas town. It was Texas, so sports, especially football, were prominently displayed on his school website. As a teaching artist with a musical emphasis, I was skeptical.

As fate would have it though, my well-manicured preconceptions melted like ice cream in the desert upon meeting Smith.

Smith, in his then-new role of principal of North High School, set to work employing what I describe as incredible vision, skill and a huge respect for all subjects (including both sports and the arts). More: My kids and others excel because of Des Moines Schools, not in spite of it | Opinion

Des Moines Public School

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