East Smiths Station Elementary

SMITHS STATION HISTORY-The Smiths Station settlement began around 1826. Central of Georgia completed a railroad from Columbus, Georgia to Opelika, Alabama in 1855. This railroad built a depot and provided shipping accommodations which encouraged people to continue to move to the community. The depot was named Broadus Smith for a prominent early settler. It seemed natural to name the school after the railroad depot, thus the school was named Smith Station.

The Smiths Station schools as they are known today originated in 1918 when the trustees met and decided to consolidate three small area schools into one at Smiths Station. Interested citizens and school trustees traveled by horse and buggy throughout the community soliciting funds for a new building. The original fund-raising push netted $1,800.00 in cash. Many people who could not donate money gave timber for the construction of the new school building. The cooperative community spirit that developed during this early period of consolidation became a tradition of the entire Smiths Station community. This tradition continues today.

East Smiths Station Elementary School began as Smiths Station Elementary School, a second and third grade school in January 1996.  In  2012, Lee County Schools realigned our schools and ESSES began serving students in grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grade.

SCHOOL PROFILE-East Smiths Station Elementary School is a vibrant member of the Lee County family.  We believe that being a successful school is an evolving process that begins at the moment a staff member, student, or stakeholder joins our educational community.  Our staff strives to provide a leading edge education, in an environment centered on quality, research-based instruction delivered through dynamic teacher/student relationships.  Students quickly realize that challenging standards, high expectations, critical thinking, and metacognitive skills are the keys to continuous success at ESSES and beyond.  Our stakeholders trust and take pride in the knowledge that their future is being sculpted at ESSES with the highest educational and societal principles.  When combined, the facets of our school community ensure that levels of success are attainable for all of our children.

COMMUNITY INFORMATION- The Smiths Station area is a growing community in east Alabama.  Our rural/suburban population is influenced by the surrounding areas of Fort Moore, Auburn/Opelika, and Phenix City, AL/Columbus, GA.  Due to some of these surrounding communities and their industries, a certain degree of our population can be considered transient.  The community is diverse in its rich cultural and economic characteristics.  Although we have a rapidly developed population, we have not relinquished our genteel qualities and hometown feel.

SCHOOL MAKEUP- ESSES comprises pre-kindergarten through 6th grade students.  Our pre-kindergarten classes include the Alabama First Class Program and classes to serve our children with special needs and peers.  In grades kindergarten through 6th grade we typcially maintain 5-7 classes per grade level. 

STAFF INFORMATION- We are privileged to educate our children with outstanding staff members.  Our staff members fluctuate based upon our needs.  Currently, ESSES comprises 40-43 K-6th grade classroom teachers, 9-11 specialty area teachers (counselor, STEM, art, music, library/media, PE), 1 full-time nurse, 12-14 special education teachers, 3 pre-kindergarten teachers, 3 office staff, 12-14 educational support persons, 5 academic coaches (math, ELA, behavior), 5 CNP staff, 4 custodians, 4-6 instructional tutors, and 3 administrators.

TECHNOLOGY-The quantity and quality of technology available for our students is appropriate to support our varied enterprises.  Each classroom has internet-accessible desktop computers and each student is assigned a personal-use device.  Many other technological devices are employed but not necessarily school wide (might be class or skill specific).  Essential computer-based educational programs, based on student needs, program enhancement, and proven success, have been determined, purchased, and are available school-wide, in each classroom, and in many instances, for homes. 

PLANNING PROCESS-Our planning is ongoing and diverse.  The process begins with an initial data/information/current level of performance review and progresses through determination of expectations based upon grade level standards.  It continues with a plan to connect the current level of performance to expectations.  Next, preparations for monitoring results and adjusting tactics are determined.  Finally, staff ownership and buy-in are achieved.

SAFETY-East Smiths Station Elementary School, the Lee County Board of Education, and the Lee County Sheriffs Department are dedicated to maintaining and expanding safety implements and protocol.  At present, ESSES uses key pad entry at 6 entrances, cameras are installed in classrooms, halls, and other student-occupied areas, Centegix Safety Platform, Raptor Visitor Management System, school assigned School Resource Officer, weather, fire, and intruder drills, etc.