HONORED — Rollin Smith was honored with the Patron Saint Award by the Epiphany Episcopal School for his contributions during his tenure there. He served as Headmaster for 11 years. Pictured with him from left are Peggy De Rouen, now head of the school; Smith, Brian Coufal, president of the board of trustees; and Clyde Allen, who presented the award at the school’s annual spring auction April 10 at the TAMUK ballrooms. “Thank you for this award tonight because a lot of people deserve this award more than I do,” Rollin Smith said after receiving the Patron Saint Award from Epiphany Episcopal School.

He thanked the congregation, his family and especially the teachers for being supportive.

He served as headmaster at Epiphany Episcopal School for 11 years.

“I am humbled and honored to be receiving this award,” he said.

“Anyone who has ever been associated with Epiphany School has a special place in their heart for Epiphany.”

Clyde Allen presents to Rollin Smith the Patron Saint Award from the Epiphany Episcopal School during its spring auction April 10. Smith was honored at the annual spring auction and dinner, with the theme of “Denim and Diamonds,” held April 10 at Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

In preparation for Epiphany Episcopal School’s 60th anniversary, this year’s event honored Smith. The school has pre-kindergarten to fifth grade classes. fifth grade classes.

The event included as in the past both silent and live auction. After the presentation and dinner, the live auction began ranging from donated paintings to a guided nilgai hunt on the King Ranch that was bought with the highest bid of the evening.

The annual spring auction is the major fundraiser for the Epiphany School and the proceeds go to the educational programs and help support the staff.

Pictured from left are Amnita Perkins, Clyde Allen, Sharon Michalk, and Forrest Michalk at the Epiphany Episcopal School annual spring auction April 10. “We were honoring Rollin because he virtually turned the school around while keeping it Christian based,” said Peggy DeRouen, Head of Epiphany Episcopal School.

“He brought unity to the school and innovative programs and designs and laid the foundation for our outstanding educational programs,” she said.

“We’re thankful for the people and community support that attended our event, through not only attendance, but underwriting and donations,” De Rouen said.

Rollin served as Head Master of Epiphany Episcopal School from 1993 to 2003 and was instrumental in leading the school to many educational successes. In 1993 Epiphany Episcopal School had less than 63 students and the school increased to a record high of 157 students with two sections for each grade during his leadership there.

Pictured is Merideth McCallick holding a painting auctioned off at the Epiphany Episcopal School annual spring auction April 10. Through Smith’s work with the King Ranch Family Trust Early Childhood Center, five teachers received scholarships, which allowed them to earn masters degrees in early childhood education. All new computers were added to the computer lab and an interactive playground was added.

During his tenure the facilities were upgraded. The Kleberg building, the old Kingsville library, was obtained and remodeled along with the Clement Building. Rooms were provided at the Clement building that houses the enrichment classes such as art, music and Spanish. The King Ranch Family Trust Early Childhood Building, and the carriage house behind it were obtained and remodeled.

ROLLIN SMITH AND FAMILY — The honoree is pictured with some of his family members at the Epiphany Episcopal School’s annual spring auction where he was honored with the Patron Saint Award. Pictured from left are Smith and his wife, Dixie Smith, granddaughter Leah Morales, daughter Shelly Morales and her husband, Joe Morales, son-in-law, and daughter Jessie Smith. Smith served 43 years as an educator. Prior to becoming Head Master at Epiphany Episcopal School, he was the Ricardo ISD superintendent for 14 years. He served in many roles with the Kingsville Independent School District where he was an assistant principal, principal at Memorial Middle School and an agriculture teacher at H.M. King High School for nine years. He was also an agriculture teacher for two years with the Lyford ISD. He worked as a lecturer in the education department at Texas A&M University-Kingsville from 1993-2003.

Smith, who was born and raised in Kingsville, graduated from H.M. King High School in 1956 and received a bachelor degree in 1960 and master’s degree in 1963 from Texas A&I University in Kingsville.

He has served on the boards of the Kleberg County Appraisal, Area Educators Credit Union, Park and Recreation Department and Kleberg County. His awards include being named Outstanding Young Educator, ATPE Administrator of the Year, 4-H Leader of the Year, Kleberg County Jr., Livestock show Dedication recipient, Honorary Chapter Farmer of the Kingsville FFA.

His wife of 50 years is Dixie Bridgers Smith, who was an early childhood teacher for 36 years. Their four children are Shelly Smith Morales, a teacher at Driscoll ISD; Jessica Smith, a KISD Memorial Middle School teacher; Buddy Smith, manager of the Hall of Frames of Kingsville and Abby Smith, manager of the Half Price Books in Corpus Christi. His grandchildren are Jannah and Leah Morales.

His church activities include serving as deacon of the First Baptist Church, Adult Bible study teacher, Gideons International member. Smith serves on the Epiphany Episcopal School Foundation Board of Directors. He also volunteers for the Kingsville Visitor Center.

His educational philosophy is “learning is enhanced in a safe, secure, caring, environment and early childhood is the most important period of a child’s development.

“The most important employee in the school is the teacher that deals with the children each day,” he stated. Learning is highly experiential through the aspects of prior knowledge, social interaction, risk taking, construction of knowledge, participation, and problem solving.

He believes educational decisions should be made at the classroom level and not at the legislative level and educational funds should be spent at the classroom level.

“I would change education today and de-emphasize testing and emphasize problem solving skills. “Information is cheap; global thinking skills should be a premium,” Smith explained when asked what his thoughts were on current education.