Every year, Fauquier High School (FHS) witnesses the retirement of many talented educators. However, the 2024-2025 school year marked an especially painful farewell as FHS says goodbye to one of its most seasoned teachers: AP Government teacher David Smith, who has taught at the school for 50 years. Over the decades, Smith educated thousands of students, preparing them for a world full of politics and civic duties. His impact left a significant mark on every student who walked through his classroom door.
A native of Warrenton, Va., Smith attended all its schools and graduated from FHS. After college, he was accepted into law school, but life took a different turn. “I was in college, and my father passed away. So, I had to take care of a family and I took over the family business,” he shared. “Then I decided, what am I going to do with my pre-law degree… someone said, why don’t you go into teaching? I had like a couple of years left. I also had most of the credits that I needed, and when you’re a senior, you have to student teach… That got my foot in the door.”
That marked the beginning of a five-decade journey. Over the years, Smith has taught World Geography, World History, US History, Economics, US Government and AP Government. One specific person helped spark Smith’s love of teaching. “My mentor who got me into teaching was Jim Wilson. He was one of the first, if not the first, black teachers here at the school who taught U.S. History. He mentored me, telling me why it was so important to be good to the students. I really loved it after he did that,” said Smith.
Being a young teacher in his twenties didn’t faze Smith, but it came with quirks. “I remember my very first day, I was in class and one of the students said, ‘Mr. Smith, you knew my brother…you and he used to—’ and I said, ‘We’re not going there,’” Smith recalled. “But it was kind of strange because some of the students, I really did know their brothers. We had actually hung out in high school.”
Gaining authority as a young teacher wasn’t a struggle for Smith. One of his early assignments helped him connect with students unusually. “One of my duties, now this sounds strange, was to go around and check [students’] smoking permits [in the smoking area]. That wasn’t a very popular thing to do. But once you did that, you got to know the students, and it was all right.”
As the years passed, Smith established a solid foundation at FHS, contributing both in and out of the classroom. One of his early initiatives was Exocet, the teachers’ newsletter he sent out weekly. Smith handled the informational and hands-on part while the students helped with the design. “I couldn’t draw a straight line with a ruler,” he joked. The newsletter ran for six years before being phased out as digital tools took over.
In the early 1990s, Smith’s AP Government classes took on new life by introducing mock trials, an idea encouraged by principal Lynn Ward. “He wanted you to use a differentiation of instruction. That was something brand new. He told me… ‘Why don’t you expand that?’ and I expanded into the mock trials that I have now.” Smith has conducted over 400 mock trials since. “I didn’t realize how much [students] got into it. I’ll see someone from 35 years ago, and the first thing they’ll say is, ‘I should have won that trial!’ and I go, ‘Yeah, you probably should have…’”Another classroom staple was his “news notes,” current events summaries followed by quizzes to keep students engaged with the real world.
Smith’s influence shaped many students who later became teachers themselves. History teacher Aaron Carter reflected, “[Mr. Smith’s mock trials] really fostered the appreciation of government for me… fairness and law… it was just fun. Every day you came to class, it was fun.” English teacher Pat Frazer adopted Smith’s straightforward approach. “[In the class] he would tell you, ‘This is what you need to know,’ ‘This is what’s going to be on the test.’ He didn’t tire us out or trick us. In almost 30 years of teaching, that [strategy] has helped me to this day.”
Teaching colleagues who didn’t study under Smith respect and appreciate him sincerely. Kara Fewell, a US History teacher who has worked alongside Smith for 20 years, called him “The sweetest, cutest little grandpa.” Fellow AP US History teacher Kristen Mathis described him as “The epitome of the type of teacher that cares about his students, cares about what they learn and wants to get to know them in a meaningful way.” AP World History teacher Charles Keith, who’s worked in the same department since 2011, added, “He’s a legend, you know?… The world has changed around him, but Mr. Smith has not changed.”
Students in his final year feel fortunate. Senior Brooklyn Bartholomew said, “I’ve heard great things about him before this year, and I knew this would be his last year going into his class…I was really happy that I would be able to be in his last class.” Senior Alejandra Sanchez added, “He’s very passionate about what he teaches, and that really comes through in all of his lectures and the stories he tells. His class is really engaging.”
Smith will be remembered not only for his teaching but also for his website, smittycity.org, which contains content ranging from JFK assassination materials to his personal cooking recipes. He also self-published a mystery novel, “The Alluring Path,” set during the Great Depression. Although he doesn’t plan to continue writing, Smith looks forward to staying involved in the community and spending more time with his family.
Even in retirement, what he’ll miss most is clear: “I’m gonna miss getting involved with the students, telling them about the direction the government’s going.”
Students, staff and the entire FHS community will miss David Smith, an indelible educator whose teaching has impacted generations.
