Saturday, January 18, 2025
AZLE—Although he wasn’t born in Azle, Azle ISD superintendent Todd Smith feels the most at-home as a Hornet.
Smith grew up in Arlington, and after an unexpected decision he made to enroll in Tarleton State instead of Stephen F. Austin University, Smith still had his mind set on becoming a wildlife biologist. His plans changed, however, when the head of the agricultural education department asked him to consider getting his teaching certificate.
“I told him, ‘I’m not a teacher,’” Smith said. “But I had several friends who were in (agricultural education) so I switched my major, and fast forward, I did my student teaching and I was like, ‘Wow, this is cool.’”
He graduated in May 1994 and got a job as the agriculture teacher at Azle High School that summer. After transitioning from agriculture teacher to an assistant principal at the high school, he got a job as principal at Walnut Creek Elementary in 2006, replacing former principal Thomas Hicks.
“That was a tough deal following Mr. Hicks, because everybody loved Mr. Hicks,” Smith said. “But, looking back on all that stuff that I went through, while I’ve enjoyed every aspect of things, those seven or eight years at Walnut Creek were some good times.”
He later became the director of district operations, and now, as superintendent, Smith has found what he loves most.
“I enjoy having that connection to the overall district,” Smith said. “At the superintendent level, I get to work with our campus leaders, work with our central administration team and really oversee the district.”
As superintendent, Smith has made impactful connections with people all around the district and community, which he said helps him thrive in an administrative position.
“I would say that’s kind of been what I focus on, is that relationship component,” Smith said. “Making the students and teachers feel valued, and then taking it to the next level with the parents and making them feel valued as well.”
Smith was hired as superintendent in March 2020, which brought its own set of challenges besides being a first-time superintendent for a 5A school.
“Of course, we’re a larger school district so I didn’t go the traditional route of starting at a smaller school district and then working my way up,” Smith said. “So that was challenging enough, and then COVID hits, and you take all these experienced superintendents and nobody knew what we were getting into.”
Despite having to overcome unexpected challenges, Smith continues to set big goals for the district.
“I want us to be one of the leading school districts in the North Texas area for sure, and a leading school district across the state,” Smith said. “I want us to be very well known for academics, athletics, CTE and everything. So really just developing and continuing to improve in all campuses is really important.”
To become such an impactful person and leader in Azle ISD, Smith has taken advice from previous principals and administrators to be as prepared as possible for any challenges he may face in the future.
“Rouel Rothenberger, who’s on the city council now, he was the principal (of Azle High School) when I was hired and he has been a great mentor,” Smith said. “He was one that encouraged me, and I had several, to go get that administration certification and become a campus principal.”
When asked what he would most want people to know about him, Smith gave a response that shows just how dedicated he is to Azle ISD and the community.
“I would hope that it exemplifies, but again, just my passion for Azle ISD — the students, the staff and our families, and just that passion and willingness to do what needs to be done to follow our model of every child, every chance, every day and the pure passion in my heart for trying to be sure that we’re doing that.”
Because of his dedication, Smith has stayed in Azle his entire career and has no plans to leave anytime soon.
“So if I was working in that school district, (my family) wanted to live in that community and be a part of it and then through that, become very involved with the community,” Smith said. “We also just really liked the feel of Azle and so we made a commitment to make that our home and it’s worked out.”
To become the district Smith envisions Azle ISD being in the future, he and countless other administrators and teachers have prioritized what it means to be an Azle Hornet and how they can enhance students’ learning in Azle ISD.
“Our goal is to get students to become lifelong learners and to have that love of learning for the rest of their lives,” Smith said. “It’s just not something that stops at 12th grade when you go into your career or on to college or into the military. And so creating that lifelong learner and having those life skills is something we really want to focus on.”
