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Clark County Public Schools (CCPS) mourned the loss of one of its own this week.

Baker Intermediate Teacher Steven Smith passed away on Sunday, Jan. 14th.

Smith taught at Baker for ten years and spent the first four years of his tenure with CCPS teaching at the now-closed Trapp Elementary School.

Baker Principal Josh Mounts had high praise for Smith’s ability as a molder of young minds.

“Steven Smith was an excellent educator. He was a teacher who possessed all of the qualities that you would want a teacher to have. Steven was calm, kind, patient, caring, and very understanding of his students. He had a special talent when it came to making positive, lasting relationships with his students and their families. Every student needs a champion like Mr. Smith in their corner,” Mounts wrote in an email to the Sun.

Smith leaves big shoes to fill and was an active member of the Baker faculty.

“In his 14-year career in Clark County, whether at Trapp Elementary or at Baker Intermediate, Mr. Smith was admired, respected, and loved by students and staff. Steven was a part of the original Baker staff when the school was formed in 2014. During his time here, Mr. Smith served as teacher, academic team coach, math department lead, SBDM Council member and held other various leadership roles. Our school family is heartbroken, but we know he is no longer suffering and he is with his Lord and Savior. Please keep his family, our students, staff, and school in your thoughts and prayers in the days ahead,” Mounts wrote.

Former students and parents of former students echoed Mounts’ words in the tribute wall accompanying Smith’s obituary on the Scobee Funeral Home website.

“Mr.Smith was my fifth-grade teacher at Trapp Elementary. He was one of the best ones I ever had and left a lasting impression on my life. I remember the last day of fifth grade, the whole class was crying because we were just so sad he wasn’t going to be our teacher anymore, wrote Kara Babb.

One former student recalled a humorous lesson Smith taught.

“Mr. Smith was my science teacher in 2015, and I can say that he was one of the greatest teachers that I have ever had. He was always smiling, in a cheerful mood, and his class presence was so welcoming for all. I even remember the moment he put quarters on his head to show us it was magnetic; it was great,” wrote Dylan Sturgill.

Visitation for Smith was on Tuesday, with the funeral service and burial following on Wednesday.

He is survived by his wife, Lindsay, three children (Carson, Kennedy and Caiden) and a large extended family in his home state of Virginia.