Dr. Thomas S. Smith Sr.

Thomas S. Smith, Sr., Ph.D., an independent K-16 educator, grant writer, tutor of English and social studies, and writer, retired from a 33-year career in the Avoyelles Parish Public Schools in central Louisiana and 7 years as full-time faculty at Baker College of Auburn Hills (MI). He was a high school teacher of English and social studies at Hessmer High School; assistant principal at Hessmer High, Riverside Elementary, and Bunkie High; principal at Lafargue High and Bunkie Middle; and district office English/Social Studies Resource Teacher/Grants Coordinator. One grant proposal he wrote netted his school district $2 million. He served as an adjunct for Northwestern State University, LSU at Alexandria, Central Texas College, Baker College of Clinton Township (MI), MaComb Community College (MI), University of Phoenix (MI), Madonna University [via Baker College] (MI), and Baker College of Auburn Hills (MI). Smith holds a B.A. in Social Studies/English Education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a M.Ed. in School Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, a M.A. in American History from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and a Ph.D. in Education Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans. He has presented at Louisiana education state conferences, Michigan education state conferences, regional education conferences. and national education conferences. His favorite presentation is "Fifty Shades of Laughter: Using Humor to Engage Students." He has published several short stories, a novella, and several poems. He has written two local gridiron shows and was a contributing author for an article in Crain's Detroit Business. Born in Natchez, Mississippi, he has always been interested in the history of the Civil War. This interest motivated him to begin his Just a Piece of Red String series.