Nate Smith

nathsmith@dallasisd.org

Mr. Smith has served as the counselor of Travis TAG since 2022. He manages a comprehensive school counseling program that encourages social, emotional, and academic growth while challenging students to become independent thinkers and responsible citizens.

With 26 years of experience in education, Mr. Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to his role. He began his career in Kentucky, where he taught high school English and Theater, building a foundation in education that he would carry through the years. In 2014, Mr. Smith moved to Texas and joined Booker T. Washington High School for the Visual and Performing Arts (BTWHSVPA) as the testing coordinator. Two years later, he became the librarian at Travis TAG, where he fostered a love for learning and literacy. His journey then led him back to BTWHSVPA in 2018 as the lead high school guidance counselor, a role he held for three years. Following a year with Dallas ISD Counseling Services, Mr. Smith realized how much he missed working directly with students, which brought him back to Travis TAG as our school counselor. We're thrilled to have Mr. Smith's experience, care, and enthusiasm guiding our students!

Counseling Services Overview

Professional school counselors attend to student issues and concerns, enabling students to focus on learning and academic achievement.  Professional school counselors must provide a systematic, planned approach for helping all students acquire the skills necessary for successful academic, career, social, and emotional development. In addition, Texas law requires school counselors to deliver guidance lessons and appropriate interventions. The Developmental Guidance and Counseling Program (TEC, 33.005) integrates four key components:

• Guidance Curriculum to help students develop their full educational potential, including the student's interests and career objectives
• Responsive Services to intervene on behalf of any student whose immediate personal concerns or problems put the student's continued educational, career, personal, or social development at risk
• Individual Academic Planning to guide a student as the student plans, monitors, and manages the student's own educational, career, personal, and social development
• System Support to support the efforts of teachers, staff, parents, and other members of the community in promoting the educational, career, personal, and social development of students