John Smith’s Biography

I grew up in Murphysboro and attended St. Andrew’s Catholic Church. After I graduated from Murphysboro High School I joined the Marines. During my time in the Marines, I had the opportunity to travel the world, serving in Washington, DC, Quantico, VA, Okinawa, Japan, and Kaneohe Bay, HI. I also served during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward). After 8 years in the Marines I left the service and came home to Murphysboro and started to travel with no real destination in mind. I made a stop in Missouri to spend the night at my sister’s house, fell in love with her neighbor, Sue, and the next thing I knew I was married and had a family. I had taken a job as a police officer, and over the next 13 years I worked as a patrol officer, K-9 officer, D.A.R.E. officer, and finally as Chief of Police. It was during my time as a D.A.R.E. officer that I realized I wanted to be a teacher. So I went to college and worked as a police chief for the next two and a half years with out a day off. I received my Bachelors degree in elementary education and a second Bachelors degree in middle school education from Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, MO. I began teaching in Nevada, MO and have taught 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th grades. I received my Master’s of Education in Administration from William Woods University, and my Specialist in Educational Leadership from William Woods University, Fulton, MO. I was the elementary principal for the district of Rich Hill, MO and made significant improvements within that district prior to coming to St. Bruno. Finally, on July 22nd, 2011, the day before I came to Pinckneyville, I became a grandpa when our daughter, Pam, gave birth to my grandson, Cole.