By Abigail Headley
In a world increasingly dominated by technology and digital distractions, educator Brian Mortimer Smith has embodied the timeless spirit of teaching with unwavering dedication. Now 55 years old, he has spent an extraordinary 37 years nurturing young minds.
Hailing from Victoria, East Coast Demerara, Smith’s journey from a carefree childhood to a seasoned educator is nothing short of fascinating. Growing up without gadgets, Smith had a childhood filled with outdoor adventures.
“I had a great childhood… We played games as boys, swam in the canals, organised bush cook, and visited the back dam in Victoria often to strip pointer broom, collect coconuts and fruits like mango, plum, jamoon, monkey apple, etc and this helped me to earn some small income and developed my entrepreneurial skills from a young age. I also attended church regularly and was involved in church activities like the Pathfinder Club, social (games night), and cookouts, to mention a few,” Smith told Stabroek News.
The rich tapestry of Smith’s life experiences shaped him into a teacher who didn’t just deliver knowledge but ignited a love for learning in his students. Curiously, he had never set out to become an educator; it was a timely suggestion from his head teacher that set him on the path to becoming a guiding light in the lives of countless children.
“While at secondary school, I served as a prefect in fourth and fifth forms and was allowed to develop leadership and supervisory skills. Whenever there was a staff workshop or meeting during school hours, prefects were given classes to supervise and ensure they completed the work set by their teachers. Upon completing my secondary education, I was asked and advised by my then Head Teacher Mr SK Singh to join the teaching profession, which kickstarted my career on 9th September 1987,” he explained.
Smith, a former teacher of the Bishops’ High School, didn’t just teach; he inspired. His classrooms were the launchpad for future leaders, with disciplines ranging from Geography to Economics being delivered with passion and creativity. His tenure included a stint in Botswana, Africa, where his influence expanded beyond traditional borders.
“[I worked for] 37 years [and] 16 years of this great journey was done in the Republic of Botswana, southern Africa where I served as an Accounting and Business Studies teacher. It was a very interesting and rewarding journey. My teaching experience was very eventful and adventurous. As a teacher of Geography, I was allowed to visit a vast number of places within our natural and man-made environment, for example, mangrove forests, tropical rainforests, farms at Black Bush Polder, the sugar industry, rice industry, the flour mill, upstream of rivers to examine the various stages of the river, fishing industry, just to name a few. I was also involved in athletic sports,” he exclaimed, emphasising the importance of hands-on learning.
Despite his many accolades, the latter part of Smith’s career was not without its challenges. As the COVID-19 pandemic shook the foundations of education worldwide, bringing with it significant learning loss, Smith said he took to utilising technology to his advantage. He adapted quickly to online platforms like Zoom and Google Classroom, proving that even in the face of adversity, education can persist.
Smith’s recent retirement marks not an end, but a significant transition. He has laid down the chalk and picked up the mantle of mentorship through Smith’s Academy and Resource Centre, established in 2016, where he continues to guide students preparing for their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) exams. He’s not just teaching academics; he’s shaping the future, ensuring the younger generation is equipped for life’s challenges.
“I will still be contributing to education and teaching because I established Smith’s Academy and Resource Centre in February 2016. This establishment offers after-school lessons and mentorship to Grade[s] 8 to 13 students who are preparing for CSEC and CAPE examinations. We offer tuition for Arts, Business, Science, and Technical streams with 12 qualified and experienced staff members. I also established a poultry farm to produce meat and eggs on a large scale, where employment is also created. So, my retirement will see a meaningful contribution to individual and societal development,” he said.
“Education is the key to success,” Smith asserted, a philosophy that underscores every aspect of his work. His legacy is reflected in the multitude of successful former students now thriving across various sectors. The pride in his words was unmistakable as he stated that his former students were now thriving in banks, government institutions, and private enterprises.
“Whatever career you choose, the knowledge of that chosen path is required for the achievement of goals and the advancement of your career,” he advised.
During the interview, Smith reflected on various aspects of his teaching career. He described the most rewarding part of his profession as witnessing his students complete their education and embark on meaningful careers. He said that changes in education policies, particularly regarding hairstyles and the use of cellular phones, had created disciplinary challenges that negatively impacted learning.
Throughout his career, the now retired teacher utilised technology, such as PowerPoint presentations and projectors, to enhance his teaching. He also embraced a child-centred teaching approach that encouraged active student involvement.
Smith observed that the teaching profession had evolved significantly over the years, facing challenges primarily related to salary structure and remuneration. To better support students’ emotional and mental well-being, he suggested, the Education Ministry should conduct training workshops for teachers.
He said he hoped that his students learned the importance of self-respect and good moral values, which he believes would benefit them as future parents and mentors. Significant resources that informed his teaching practice included geography books written by John McPherson and R B Bunnett.
Smith related that his favourite classroom activities included students developing and presenting models illustrating topics such as river development and volcanic formations, as well as an annual Caricom project where Grade Nine students showcased various aspects of a Caricom country.
He credited inspiring teachers from his own educational journey. “It all started with my nursery school teacher Hazel Russell-Thorn who taught me the 3 Rs – Reading, [W]riting and [A]rithmetic – the primary school mentor Elizabeth Annie Rodrigues-Collins who took me as her son and helped me through my early primary education. At secondary school many teachers mentored and motivated me to become like them; the late Cleopatra Barlow (English Language); SK Singh (Spanish and History), Raymond Reis (Principles of Business and History), and Gomati Gangadin (Geography),” he related.
Smith recognized that his experiences as a teacher equipped him with valuable skills in conflict resolution, time management, and meeting deadlines, all of which contributed to his personal and professional growth. He also recounted an anecdote, where he had to adjust his mindset about students he once attended school with.
“On my first day in the classroom as a teacher at my former school as a student a few months ago, I was given a Form 4 Principles of Business class to teach. These students were previously in Form 3 while I was in Form 5. The senior teacher said to me, ‘If you had liked any of those girls while you were at school, you should unlike them and see them as your students, you are now their teacher’. From that day I developed a strong and strict attitude towards my work and the teaching-learning process as a whole,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of hard work, citing a quote that resonated with him: “Success comes not by wishful thinking, but by hard work bravely done.” Overall, Smith conveyed a deep commitment to education and its transformative potential for students.
Now in a new chapter at the crossroads of retirement and philanthropy, Smith said, “I plan to do more evangelism work through the church by spreading the good news of salvation and helping others to come to know Jesus Christ as their saviour. I will always be a teacher, as I continue with my private tuition service centre and will make meaningful contributions in educating our future leaders,” he declared.
For those new to the profession, his advice is clear: prioritise education, continue personal growth, and understand the profound impact that educators can have on young lives.
“As a young teacher entering the system, my advice is to get qualified as a trained teacher and proceed to acquire graduate and postgraduate qualifications related to the profession. This will lead to personal and professional development and growth,” he advised.
In a time when the role of teachers is more crucial than ever, Smith reminds us all that dedicated educators are the unsung heroes shaping the future; one student at a time.
