Teachers have many different reasons for entering into the academic field. Some wish to mold young minds or want to help teach the future generation of students. Ron Smith just wanted to watch his son play baseball.

“When my son entered high school, he played baseball, so he had practice at 2:30 in the afternoon,” said Smith. “I couldn’t convince the judges that I needed time off to see baseball games so I changed my career. I wasn’t having much fun anymore anyway.”

Smith spent fifteen years practicing law before his son went to high school. Due to the conflict created between his work hours and his son’s baseball, Smith decided to quit his job in law and become a teacher so that he and his son could have the same schedule. 

Since changing careers, Smith has since spent his years as an English teacher. He taught for five years in Springfield, Massachusetts.

However, the majority of his teaching has taken place in the last six years here at South Lakes.

Now after a dozen years of teaching, Smith is preparing for another large big change in his life. Retirement.

“I’ll turn 64 in the fall so I thought that was a good time to retire,” said Smith.

Smith plans to retire to Florida and has already bought a house in the Sunshine State.

He is looking forward to relaxation and a stereotypical Florida retirement.

“We’re going for a normal Florida retirement,” said Smith. “On blue days I’ll fish in the morning and play golf in the afternoons and on green days I’ll play golf in the morning and fish in the afternoon.”