Title: Retired Special Education Teacher and Author
Company: Helen M. Davis School
Location: Bolckow, Missouri, United States
Carley Fay Smith, author and retired special education teacher at the Helen M. Davis School, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in early childhood and special education.
Ms. Smith, a retired early childhood and special education teacher, spent several decades in the classroom teaching students with various learning disabilities. Concluding her career with the Helen M. Davis School in 2016 after more than 10 years on campus, she reflects on her career with admiration for her incredible devotion to these children. Ms. Smith’s diverse background also included serving as a special education teacher for United Cerebral Palsy, an international nonprofit charitable organization based in Washington, D.C., for over a decade after her initial foray into teaching at North Andrew Elementary School for over five years.
Before becoming a teacher, Ms. Smith was active in the health care sector as an aid for several nursing home facilities. The experience of tending to older adults with various conditions was key to her later success. Pivoting from the nursing home environment to teaching children with special needs was a seamless, equally fulfilling process. Besides working as an aide, Ms. Smith held various other positions in the industry, including medical aide, kitchen staff member, secretary, medical record clerk, activity director and social services director.
In preparation for her career in education, Ms. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Northwestern State University in Leesville, Louisiana, in 1980. She also received certification in early childhood special education, making her highly qualified in her industry and allowing her to work alongside therapists in the field.
After years of dedication in the classroom, Ms. Smith became a published author in 2023 with the release of “Mike and the Ice Capade.” A goal of hers for many years, the publication serves as a testament to her lifelong passion for writing. The 28-page full-color children’s book, published by Newman Springs in August 2023, can be found on Amazon.com. “Mike and the Ice Capade” is the story of a family of mice that finds themselves exhausted after a long summer of storing rice for the winter months. The book delves into how they found creative and simple ways to use other things stored away and ends with a neighborhood of mice celebrating on ice.
Ms. Smith recently hosted a book signing event to celebrate “Mike and the Ice Capade,” where she inscribed encouraging messages alongside every signature. Looking toward the future, she intends to begin focusing on writing more poetry, where she can leverage her life experiences to inspire her work. She has already accumulated a collection of poems she plans to include in her next book.
Ms. Smith’s hard work and dedication to serving Helen M. Davis School students were widely recognized. During her tenure, she was honored to receive Teacher of the Month. She attributes her success to her unwavering determination and the inspiration she has received throughout the years from members of the school administration, parents and colleagues who believed in her abilities. This constant encouragement has profoundly impacted her career. Moreover, Ms. Smith’s tremendous satisfaction with working with children and witnessing their progress and development year after year was truly inspiring.
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