Teacher Rebecca Smith is known for bringing energy and enthusiasm into every AP Psychology class that she teaches. Her positive attitude and passion for the subject makes her students understand the toughest topics and make the subject feel exciting. Smith has a desire to make sure students feel supported and confident in their learning. With her teaching style and genuine care for her students, Smith creates a positive environment that stands out at Crown Point.
Smith’s dedication goes beyond simply teaching the material. She works closely with her students to ensure they truly understand the material and can apply what they learn to the AP test.
“I teach AP Psychology all day long, it’s really awesome. Ultimately, I work with students to make sure that they are learning the material that the College Board has asked them to know for their test, and we’ll go through lessons and practices,’’Smith said.
As the club sponsor, Smith shares how the Psychology Club first started and how it eventually became her responsibility. She expresses how she strives to keep it a fun, educational, and stress-free environment for everyone who attends. She explained how the program was created as a way for students to explore psychology beyond the classroom and how it has grown into a comfortable space where students can come to connect and show their interests every month.
“I am the sponsor for the Psychology Club. Mr. Barno started it a few years ago, he had students who came to me asking if there was a way that they could learn more about psychology outside of the classroom that would be a little more fun, and it wasn’t all about the test. So he started up the program, and then it just got passed to me two years ago. We meet once a month, and we just talk about fun things or things that are interesting. In October, we watched a Vsauce episode about fear in the brain and then we had cereal and breakfast and just hung out. Every month, we do something new, but that way it’s not as much pressure,’’ Smith said.
To fully understand Smith’s involvement in the Psychology club, it helps to look at her journey that brought her to this point. Before taking on AP Psychology and the club, she spent years teaching in other districts, gaining experience that shaped her teaching style and student needs.
“I originally was teaching in Illinois, and I was teaching special ed over there, and then I got a job at Lake Central, and I worked at Lake Central for about eight years or so. And then Mr. Pettit called me from here, and he asked if I wanted to start the AP Psychology program here. That’s what pulled me over from Lake Central, is that I was able to start our AP Psychology program. I started working here in 2013,’’ Smith said.
Outside of the classroom, Smith also makes sure to have time for the things that matter most to her. She explains that her personal life is filled with spending time with her family and doing activities that keep her energized. Her life outside of school reveals a side of her that her students don’t always see, but that plays a big role in who she is.
“I have two kids, so I make sure I have fun with them. I love to play sports, so a lot of times I’ll play with my kids. We’ll play basketball, softball, or baseball. I love going to concerts; I am a huge fan of live music, so when we get closer to the summer season, I love live music. I just went to Red Rocks this summer. I highly recommend it for everybody to put on their bucket list,’’ Smith said.
Smith highlights how our school is very fortunate to have all of the extracurriculars and academics that we have to get the total high school experience. She explained that these opportunities help students grow, stay involved, and be ready for whatever comes next on their path after graduation.
“The reason a student should want to go to Crown Point is because there are so many opportunities and there are so many different niches a kid can get into. Sometimes in smaller schools or certain districts, you can only do certain sports or clubs. And here we seem to have everything. And then we have so many high-level classes, too, like kids can walk out of here for graduation, they will have like a lot of credits for college already started, which helps their parents with saving that money,’’Smith said.
Smith’s commitment to her students and her enthusiasm for psychology continue to shape a positive and engaging environment both in and out of the classroom. Her dedication to helping students understand the material, feel supported, and explore psychology beyond the curriculum makes a positive impact on all the students she teaches. Through her work with AP Psychology and the Psychology Club, she creates opportunities for students to grow academically and personally. Smith’s desire and leadership continues to inspire her students each day, leaving a meaningful impact on students.
