Final Day of ‘24-25 School Year Message to Community School of Davidson

To the Community School of Davidson Families, Students, and Staff,

Please view my video message below:

Have a wonderful summer and continue to be your best!

Craig S. Smith

Executive Director

Community School of Davidson

#TuesdayThoughts (X posts) from March & April, 2025

“The only person you need to compare yourself with is who you were yesterday.” -Rushton Hurley

Continue to Be Your Best. Do not worry about anyone else's best; just focus on being the best version of yourself.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 4, 2025

Rest when you're weary. Refresh & renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work. - Ralph Marston

This seems perfect after an incredible #FreshTake2025 on Friday.

Refresh when needed, to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 11, 2025

Transparency...does not always equate with "liking what you hear." But the conversation (and dialogue) is the focal point of transparency.

Continue to Be Your Best by fostering transparency through the opportunity to dialogue.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 18, 2025

When you feel like complaining, shift your attention to something that you're grateful for. - @TalentsmartEQ

Be Your Best by shifting your perspective through positive statements to reinforce the good.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced #Mindfulness

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 25, 2025

Five Things to Do Instead of Complain:

1. Practice Gratitude
2. Praise Others.
3. Focus on Success.
4. Let Go.
5. Pray & Meditate.

[From @JonGordon11's "The No Complaining Rule"]

Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced #Mindfulness

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 1, 2025

Even if you have a 99% approval rate (which is impossible anyway), that's still one out of 100 who is unhappy with you.

Don't focus on that 1%. Just Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 8, 2025

Want to quickly assess if your school, team, or organizational culture is one of SHARED ownership?

Listen to how often you hear "we", "us", & "our" ...compared to..."I", "mine", & "their".#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 15, 2025

Great things come from 3 things: Commitment, Hard Work, & Strong Finishes. - G. R. Blair

To the CSD Community, welcome back from what I hope was a relaxing Spring Break. Continue to Be Your Best to finish the school year STRONG.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 22, 2025

7 Habits of People W/ Remarkable Mental Toughness:

"Mental strength is like muscle strength–no one has an unlimited supply. So why waste your power on things you can’t control?"

Focus on Being Your Best.https://t.co/ynpbPhKBL6 @Inc #TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 29, 2025

Thank you for viewing,

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

Spring Break 2025 Send-Off Message to the Community School of Davidson

To the Community School of Davidson Families, Students, and Staff,

Please view my video message below:

Continue to be your best,

Craig S. Smith

Executive Director

Community School of Davidson

#TuesdayThoughts (X posts) from January & February, 2025

#Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge. - Simon Sinek

Be Your Best through "generous leadership", to take care of others and allow each of them to develop, grow, and thrive.#TuesdayThoughts #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 7, 2025

Principal & Teachers. Teacher & Students. Coach & Athletes. Etc.

SHARED OWNERSHIP:

It needs to be “us”, “we”, & “our.”

It can’t be “them”, “I”, & “their.”

Be Your Best through shared ownership.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 14, 2025

"As a leader, when you demonstrate vulnerability and are honest, you free others. You free people to expose their roadblocks and their fears; they feel more empowered; and their performance improves."

Be Your Best by "taking off the mask."#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 21, 2025

Healthy competition isn't necessary a bad thing, when you are competing with YOURSELF to continuously improve...

Be Your Best, every day...knowing our "best" looks different each day.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 28, 2025

There is a lot you cannot control in the world. But you have complete control of your enthusiasm and attitude.

Continue to be your best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 4, 2025

Thinking that a #leadership position makes you a leader is like thinking that wearing an #NFL jersey makes you a professional football player.

Be Your Best through authentic leadership & embrace everything that comes w/ what we are tasked.#TuesdayThoughts #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 11, 2025

I don't know if being positive solves problems, but I do know being negative doesn't. - @ToddWhitaker

Be Your Best w/ positive, optimistic (GENUINE) energy to collaboratively overcome our challenges and celebrate our successes.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 18, 2025

"Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder."

Continue to Be Your Best when you feel like complaining and shift your attention to something that you're grateful for.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 25, 2025

Thank you for viewing,

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.

"Letter from Birmingham Jail": Honoring MLK at Mettle - F3 Highlands January 20, 2025

• When: 01/20/2025
• QIC: Powerball
• The PAX:  Ponyboy, Sparky, Snowsuit, Gordo, Barnstormer, Dune, Poutine, Greeter, Powerball

I had the opportunity to continue my tradition of leading MLK Day Monday Mettle and shared the preblast via X. A "real feel" temperature in the low-teens was embraced.

Today marks the 39th anniversary of the federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. The holiday was signed into law in 1983 and was first observed in 1986, serving as a tribute to Dr. King for advancing civil rights and social justice through non-violent protest.

Therefore, nine High Impact Males aligned the beatdown with the opportunity to read aloud some of Dr. King’s literature, mostly from his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, written in 1963.

Disclaimer provided and mosey to the clubhouse and back for…

WARMARAMA

Side-Straddle Hops (Jumping Jacks), IST, Hillbillies, Weed Pickers, Windmill, Plank-Jacks, Mountain Climbers, Shoulder-taps, and Burpees.

THE THANG

Coupons (kettlebells, dumbbells, or sandbag) obtained:

• Overhead Carries aka Riffle Carries (across parking lot and back)
• Squats 
• Shoulder Press
• Upright Rows
• Curls
• Kettlebell Swings
• Tricep Extensions (Skull Crushers)
• Bent-over Rows
• Briefcase Carries/Farmer Carries (across parking lot and back x 2; each side)

Followed by a mosey to the island and back. Rep numbers were 15 for Rounds 1-4; 10 reps for Speed Round 5. After each circuit, a PAX read a quote from an index card aloud to the group.

We were able to get through five circuits with little down time; we closed out with Low-Flutters and Mason Twist (aka American Hammers).

The following quotes from “Letter from Birmingham Jail” were utilized:

• Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
• Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
• We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
• One has not only a legal, but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.
• We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.
• We who engage in nonviolent direct action are not the creators of tension. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive. We bring it out in the open, where it can be seen and dealt with.
• Will we be extremists for hate or will we be extremists for love? Will we be extremists for the preservation of injustice ― or will we be extremists for the cause of justice?

Plus, two more of my favorites:

• “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”
• “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

MOLESKIN:

• It’s incredible to hear how the words written and spoken by Dr. King from 1963, 62 years ago, still resonate today. We have so much work to do with the ongoing battle for social justice, equality, and better opportunities for each and everyone. 
• I hope the words shared today provide some opportunity for thought and reflection as we celebrate and honor the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior.
• Thankful for this group to push me to be a better man and leader. Strong incorporation of all three F's today: Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Powerball

aka Craig S. Smith

#TuesdayThoughts (X posts) from December, 2024

"Befriend the man who is brutally honest, for honesty is the highest form of respect." -D. Saint

Be Your Best by surrounding yourself with those who will be honest with you.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) December 3, 2024

Growth is about progress, not perfection. Keep showing up for yourself, even when it’s hard.

Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) December 10, 2024

“We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience.” - J. Dewey

As we approach the closing of 2024, Be Your Best by reflecting on our successes, our failures, and our opportunities moving forward.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) December 17, 2024

 

Thank you for viewing,

CS

The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.