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Gayle Smith
Language Arts Teacher

Welcome. This is my eighth year teaching at Douglas County West.  I teach all the required English 9, Practical English 9, and Honors English 9 classes, as well as a Metro CTE class.  I am also the DC West Competitive Speech Coach and share Digital Journalism/Yearbook sponsorship with Mr. Trey Baker.

Previously, I taught for one year at Fremont High School teaching English and Debate and coaching Fremont's Debate Team. Before that I taught for 17 years in Alma, Nebraska, also teaching English, Speech and coaching the Speech Team, and directing the One-Act Play and All-School Play. Alma is small town of 1,200 people in southwest Nebraska near Harlan County Lake.

Many years ago, I graduated high school from Grand Island Northwest and continued my education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln where I met my husband Jim.  My husband was offered a job in Holdrege, Nebraska, and I finished my Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language Arts at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.  I also completed my Master of Science in Instructional Technology at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. I have continued my education with Leadership in Instructional Technology and a Library Sciences endorsement.

I have two sons, Jared and Nathan. Jared joined the Marines after high school but now lives in Kearney, Nebraska. My youngest son, Nathan works for Pinnacle Bank in Omaha as a Security Engineer.

My husband and I enjoy camping, kayaking and hiking with our dog Stella and our new puppy. Truman.

Contact Information: gsmith@dcwest.org