Spring Break 2026 Send-Off Message to the Community School of Davidson

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

Please view my brief video message below:

Continue to be your best,

Craig S. Smith

Executive Director

Community School of Davidson

Six Concise Self-Reflection X Posts from Jimmy Casas' #FreshTake2026 Keynote (plus a bonus pic)

My content today will be dedicated to #FreshTake2026:

Do the behaviors of the adults in your school match the words on your walls? - @casas_jimmy #edchat #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 20, 2026

When we avoid tough conversations, we exchange short-term discomfort for long-term dysfunction. - @casas_jimmy #FreshTake2026 #edchat #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 20, 2026

The responsibility for ensuring the #wordsonthewall don’t lose their meaning belongs to all of us, from the boardroom to the classroom. - @casas_jimmy #FreshTake2026 #edchat #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 20, 2026

Two words to help you be better for others today…SLOW DOWN. - @casas_jimmy

(“Hustle Culture”)#FreshTake2026 #edchat #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 20, 2026

When facing a challenge: Remember what you said you were going to do for students when you sat in that interview chair? - @casas_jimmy

Such a powerful point of reflection. #FreshTake2026 #edchat #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 20, 2026

The “interview chair” was the best version of ourselves.#FreshTake2026 🔽🔽🔽 https://t.co/tEeXiXxdx5

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 20, 2026

It was such an honor & privilege to have my guy @casas_jimmy back to CSD as our #FreshTake2026 Conference Keynote today!

Blog Post: Six Self-Reflecting X Posts from his Keynote https://t.co/wMJ0sqLV7e

Continue to Be Your Best!#Culturize #ChampionForStudents #WordsOnTheWall pic.twitter.com/pFF5M1udbP

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) March 20, 2026

 

Continue to be your best and 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.

#TuesdayThoughts (X posts) from January & February, 2026

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. - Walter Elliott

Welcoming back our students today (staff yesterday) to open 2026; Continue to Be Your Best by focusing on the "short races" this week!#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 6, 2026

Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability. - Coach John Wooden

Continue to Be Your Best; don't be concerned about anyone else's best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 13, 2026

Be yourself so that the people looking for you can find you. - Arlan Hamilton

Continue to Be Your Best while staying authentic and genuine; you never know when someone ELSE may need you.#TuesdayThoughts #leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 20, 2026

Sharing vulnerabilities in a safe environment can help to build trust. When people are vulnerable enough to place their trust in you, treat it as sacred.

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

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) January 27, 2026

2 years ago, your choices, actions, & habits built the life you're living right now.

2 years from now, your choices, actions, & habits will build the life you'll be living then.

Make 'em count. - @TomBrady

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

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 3, 2026

“Hope is cognition and a leading motivation that pushes people to act towards their goals. It’s a skill we have to work on and one that we can grow.” - Dr. Crystal Bryce, Researcher

Hope can be a skill utilized to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 10, 2026

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. - John F. Kennedy

Continue to Be Your Best by living with gratitude.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 17, 2026

Culture is not a problem that needs to be solved, but rather a framework that a group can use to solve problems. - Tom Miller, Ed.D.

When facing a "problem", approach with a #GrowthMindset.

Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 24, 2026

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 19, 2026

• When: 01/19/2026
• QIC: Powerball
• The PAX: Disaster, Snowsuit, Pinkman, Pine Tar, Sparky, Barnstormer, Dune, Skipper, Lincoln, Yacht Rock, Brinkley, Poutine, Barrister, Greeter

I had the opportunity to continue my tradition of leading "MLK Day Monday Mettle" for F3 Highlands and shared the preblast via X. A "real feel" temperature of 19 degrees was embraced, as many PAX arrived just in time after dealing with the ice on their windshields. Today marks the 40th 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, 15 High Impact Males aligned the beatdown with the opportunity to hear 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, Weed Pickers, Windmill, Toy Soldiers, Mountain Climbers, Plank-Jacks, 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, I read a quote 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, 63 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

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

#TuesdayThoughts (X posts) from November & December, 2025

Sometimes it is not enough to do our best; we must do what is required. - Winston Churchill

Continue to Be Your Best...by doing what is required.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

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

Visionary leaders are often clear about the direction they want to go, but it's the humble leader who recognizes that [they] must listen to others to help them redirect that vision. - @casas_jimmy, from #Recalibrate

Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership

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

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. - Melody Beattie

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

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) December 2, 2025

"The four most powerful words you can say to someone...I believe in you." - Coach Sean McVay

Continue to Be Your Best by cultivating the growth of those around you.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) December 9, 2025

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. - Steve Jobs

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

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) December 16, 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. 

#TuesdayThoughts (X posts) from September & October, 2025

Closed out 2025 "Get Connected" Meetings w/ this image & message:

Be Your Best, knowing our “best” will look different each day (and that's okay).

You Are Not a Machine.https://t.co/kAVo66fZDa#TuesdayThoughts #GrowthMindset #leadership #nced

(image credits unknown) pic.twitter.com/eJbBY7QHFw

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) September 2, 2025

While you cannot control most circumstances, you CAN control your choice in P-E-A-R:

Preparation
Enthusiasm
Attitude
Response

Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #leadership #MindsetMatters #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) September 9, 2025

"Pay no attention to toxic words. What people say is often a reflection of themselves, not you" - C. Baloga

Just focus on being the best genuine version of yourself and allow your reputation to speak louder than words.#TuesdayThoughts #GrowthMindset #leadership #nced

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) September 16, 2025

Great leaders learn to balance toughness with tenderness. They learn to be tough without losing tenderness and they learn to be tender without losing toughness. - Coach Bob McKillop

Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset https://t.co/dsuAoPoh9I

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) September 23, 2025

Balance confidence with humility. Confidence without humility is arrogance. - Coach Bob McKillop

Continue to Be Your Best with a genuine awareness of your own strengths and improvement areas for growth.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership #GrowthMindset

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) September 30, 2025

If there is something going on in your life that may be impacting your ability to Be Your Best, tell someone.

The impacting issue(s) may be out of your/their control, but the awareness for others to be mindful will only help them better support you.#TuesdayThoughts #Leadership

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

Discipline comes before freedom. Discipline and freedom cannot be divorced. They belong together. My accountability for my responsibility gives me my rights. - Coach Bob McKillop

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

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

"If you're not a leader on the bench, don't call yourself a leader on the field. You're either a leader everywhere or nowhere." - @AbbyWambach #Leadership cannot be dependent on convenience.

Continue to Be Your Best.#TuesdayThoughts #GrowthMindset

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

Our most consequential human problems will be resolved, not through competition, but collaboration...what we need in #education is a learning climate in which students work together. - E. Boyer

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

— Craig S. Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) October 28, 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.