The "Original" Mike Smith

Ladies and gentlemen, our presenter today holds a bachelor's degree in History, is an honors graduate of the U.S. Army's Instructor's Training Academy, and a decorated Vietnam helicopter pilot. He retired from his successful New Mexico-based marketing business at the age of 42 to pursue his passion for helping students and educators. He has been working with schools and school systems all over North America ever since.

As a speaker, he has keynoted many state and regional conferences for administrators, teachers, student leaders as well as numerous associations connected with education. As a trainer he has conducted workshops for both students and adult educators on a wide range of topics including personal responsibility, diversity, character and leadership.

As proof of his commitment to student co-curricular activities training as an involvement tool for education, he helped found and served 9 years on the board of the National Association of Student Activity Advisers and today Mike is helping organize the Coalition for the Promotion of Co-curricular Activities. His commitments to positive parental involvement lead him to help found Family Friendly Schools and to serve on its board for two years.

Mike has been honored by the California Association of Directors of Activities with an Honorary Lifetime Membership. He is in the hall of fame for the Collation for the Advancement of Student Activities and has received numerous awards for his work with teachers and students. As a poet, he has been published in various anthologies and self-help books while his "Rhymes for Reasons" cards can be found in over a million wallets.

He is a regular contributor to Leadership for Student Activities magazine published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. His work has been featured on the educational web site, Straight Talk. In the past 19 years he has traveled well over 4 million miles delivering his message, addressing over 2 million people. He has been in every major city and spoken in every state in the United States and every province of Canada except Prince Edward Island. He has spoken in Bermuda and the Caribbean.

Constantly the student, constantly asking how to make the educational experience better and more productive for everyone, constantly looking for programs and products to share with others… ladies and gentlemen, the author, edutainer, philosopher, speaker - and a good friend to education: THE "ORIGINAL" MIKE SMITH!