Ms. Kathleen Smith, U.S. Navy veteran, joins the Japan District as Principal of Cummings Elementary School. Ms. Smith served previously as Assistant Principal at Netzaberg Elementary School. Prior to her time at Netzaberg, Ms. Smith served as an Instructional Systems Specialist for Early Childhood English Language Arts for the Okinawa District. She has almost 12 years of teaching experience with 9 of those years served in DoDEA schools. Ms. Smith was selected as the Okinawa District Teacher of the Year in 2009. Before transferring to DoDEA, Ms Smith taught 1st, 2nd and 5th grades at Pate Elementary School and Spaulding Elementary School in Darlington, SC.

Ms. Smith received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Francis Marion University in December 2000 and her Masters of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Phoenix. She is firmly committed to promoting a sense of community within the school and classrooms as well as building partnerships with parents and community.

 

Message From the Principal:

Dear parents and community members,

Our children are the greatest gift that we have ever been given and with this gift comes tremendous responsibility and duty. One such responsibility is assuring that they receive the best education possible. As educators we are eager to take each student that enters our school to the highest level of knowledge possible, so that they will be ready for the challenges of tomorrow. 

Modern education goes far beyond what can be memorized from text books or gleaned from lectures or presentations alone.   Successful students of today must know how to link information from our past, with that of our present, and use it to progress into our future.  In preparing our students for success, we must provide them the skills that allow the learning process to become a never ending continuum. A continuum that enhances the knowledge of how to learn, develop a true love of learning, and to view learning as a never ending life skill.  

This is a huge challenge that the teachers and staff at Cummings Elementary School are eager to undertake.  We have outstanding teachers that are well trained as professional educators.  Educators that also have the compassion and understanding to nurture your children through educational milestones and associated life skills required for ultimate success.

Cummings Elementary is a community school and one that takes a tremendous amount of pride in it’s partnership with community and families to gain the most and the very best of what our experience here in Misawa can give us.  Please be an intricate part of your child’s educational life by visiting with, volunteering as time permits, and supporting the teachers of Cummings Elementary as we prepare your child for their successes of today and tomorrow. 

Sincerely,

Kathleen Smith
Principal
DSN Phone: 226-2641
Principal.CummingsES@pac.dodea.edu