“[My] first impression is that he is kind, [and] that has not changed.”
That was how Crawford Brown (‘29) described the frequent Bishop’s substitute teacher, Mr. Sid Smith, having had him for History, Math, and English.
Recognizable by his crisp dress shirt, a neatly-trimmed mustache, black-framed glasses, and a “booming voice that fluctuates when he talks,” as observed by Sherilyn Li (‘28), Mr. Smith, despite being nearly 80 years old, has been a sub at Bishop’s for six years.
Apart from his signature look, what sets Mr. Smith apart is also the way he engages with the classroom. “Mr. Smith is an amazing sub,” Samuel Stallings (‘28) commented. “Unlike usual subs whom I tend to pay less attention to, I feel inclined to pay attention more to Mr. Smith.” Having had Mr. Smith for everything from Studio Arts II to Chemistry, Sam attributes this gravity to the man’s storytelling: “He has interesting in-the-moment jokes, humor, and stories.”
Sanjeevni Vaidya (‘28) remembers when she had Mr. Smith for an English II Exit West Harkness discussion. “He did his homework, and it was helpful because he knew what was going on, and he captivated the class,” she recounted. “He keeps [the class] on track, but he is also not too serious.”
That engagement is not one-sided — Mr. Smith often learns from subbing for Bishopians. “I often have a sense after classes that I’ve learned a lot from the students — about the subject matter and about their unique but enlightening teenage points of view!” he shared.
And Bishop’s students have learned from him: “Individual students come up to me weeks later, saying I taught them new historical details or words, based on my experiences and knowledge,” Mr. Smith said, and he was “impressed that students actually listen to me and remember my comments!”
For Mr. Smith, the best part about teaching at Bishop’s is the environment. He described students as “cooperative and respectful,” and explained that they treat him with the same level of authority as they would give their full-time teachers. He also noted that “most regular teachers are very helpful, providing useful lesson plans.”
“He embodies our school’s values of integrity, kindness, and belonging,” said History Teacher Dr. Jeffrey Geoghegan, who frequently uses Mr. Smith as a sub.
Mr. Smith officially joined the Bishop’s community in December 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit campus, after moving back to La Jolla from Virginia. “I knew schools were in need of subs, especially as students were still trying to cope with the pandemic,” he reflected.
Even during the difficult era, Mr. Smith had stood out. “Sid was able to be here frequently during that time,” noted Director of Bookstore & Faculty Substitutes Ms. Erin Saldaña, “He is a very reliable and dedicated sub.”
What Bishop’s students might not know about Mr. Smith, however, is his wealth of legal expertise and long history of public service. A graduate of the University of Kansas Class of 1970, Mr. Smith earned his Bachelor’s in History and Political Science, and completed his Juris Doctorate (JD).
About 50 years before he was roaming the halls of Bishop’s, Mr. Smith served as the Judge Advocate at the U.S. Navy from 1969-1987, ranging duty stations from USS Intrepid, USS Oriskany, San Francisco (Treasure Island), San Diego, Pearl Harbor, Norfolk, and Washington D.C.
He then served as a Senior Associate General Counsel at the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (USOGE) for 14 years, overseeing the drafting and implementation of federal ethics rules.
He even appeared in a 1998 Federal Register as the point of contact for the updates on federal rules after the Supreme Court struck down a ban on government employees receiving payment for speeches and articles, more officially known as honorarium.
“I never knew he served as a [General Counsel],” Sam said. “That’s very impressive!”
“My background knowledge of [History and English] allows students to engage me in their class discussions,” Mr. Smith explained.
It’s true — rather than just taking attendance, students can find Mr. Smith occasionally joining in a discussion, bringing his knowledge into a comment, or recounting a memory of a significant moment in history he has lived through.
Pointing to Mr. Smith’s experiences, Dr. Geoghegan said he appreciates Mr. Smith “because of the wealth of experience and wisdom he brings to our community.”
“We are fortunate to have a number of highly qualified and dedicated guest teachers at this school,” Dr. Geoghegan continued, “and Mr. Smith is no exception.”
As Logan Yockey (‘27) put it: “When he walks in, you just know he’s one of the good ones.”
