 The "Live
United" on Guffrie Smith's t-shirt is more than the United Way's slogan;
it's his philosophy of life. His father, Guffrie M. Smith, Sr., often
worked three or four jobs, claiming, "Work never killed anyone." His
father also insisted that his children pursue higher education, think of
their lives in terms of service to others, and live so they are role
models for others. Smith, the oldest of seventeen children, clearly
absorbed all his father's lessons.
Smith has been a lifelong educator. In 1964, he started out as a teacher
at Appeal Elementary School. In 1975, he moved to the Maryland State
Department of Education as a specialist in Title I schools and migrant
education. In 1981, he returned to Calvert County Public Schools where,
prior to his 2002 retirement, he held several positions, including
principal, supervisor of instruction, director of elementary education,
and director of curriculum and instruction. He then became the director
of the Community Education Resource Center. In 2009, he was appointed to
the Maryland State Board of Education, and he also currently serves on
the National Association of State Boards of Education and its National
Government Affairs Committee, a group that analyzes concerns, trends,
and best practices.
At a time in life when many men would be enjoying leisurely days on the
golf course, Smith dedicates himself to community service, explaining
his involvement as "a way of living out [his] purpose in life." Active
in Christmas in April since it began in 1981, Smith screens homes for
rehabilitation and organizes teams to do the work. In the Kiwanis Club,
he organized Key Clubs, which offer students opportunities to provide
service and develop leadership, in all four Calvert County high schools.
In the Patuxent United Methodist Church, Smith sings in the men's choir
and serves as a lay reader. He's active in the Calvert Alliance Against
Substance Abuse, a member of Men on the Move and Concerned Black Men of
Calvert County, the incoming president of the Calvert County Historical
Society, on the committee to restore the Old Wallville School, and a
member of the Asbury Atlantic Board of Directors - and that's just a
partial list.
Jennifer Moreland, the director of community and resource development at
United Way of Calvert County, says Guffrie Smith has his finger "on the
pulse of the community," recognizes its problems, and "knows how to make
change happen." His ability to create change is evident through his work
in the Calvert Crusade for Children. An advocacy agency affiliated with
General Colin Powell's America's Promise, the Crusade coordinates with
county agencies and activities to assess needs and to provide children
and youth with caring adults, safe environments, a healthy start,
effective education, and opportunities for service. By networking with
other local organizations, the Crusade has raised almost $3 million to
support children's programs over the past three years. The Crusade also
provides "Big Buddies," who act as mentors for fourth and fifth graders.
Asset Development, a vital Crusade initiative, is a method of assessing
the needs of children and youth and translating the results into
community action. An expert in Asset Development, Smith trains the
trainers, so that the approach can be widely implemented throughout
county schools and community organizations.
Smith's achievements have not gone unnoticed. In 2003, he and his wife
were honored as King and Queen of Calvert County's United Way Mardi
Gras. In 2009, he received two awards: the Maryland State Teachers
Association granted him its Martin Luther King Community Award, and the
Calvert County Democratic Central Committee selected him for the Louis
L. Goldstein Award. And in 2010, Calvert County was included on the
America's Promise list of 100 Best Communities for Young People - an
honor for all, but one that Guffrie Smith helped bring about.
For more information on United Way of Calvert County, please visit their
website at www.unitedwaycalvert.org. |
