Williamson County BOE has determined that Justin Smith is not fit to coach baseball at Heritage Middle School, due to a poor choice he made at the age of 19, while in the Navy. Williamson County BOE is calling Justin a criminal, while he has NEVER been convicted of any wrong doing. While Justin is aware that he made a bad choice, it was the consequences he suffered that made him realize that he must rise above it and become a better individual. For the past 23 years, he has done just that. In fact, he has become a very respected individual and baseball coach at HRCA for the past 7 years.
My personal experience - My son began his baseball fever at the age of 4 and has played baseball every year, every season, since. While he played at Bethesda Rec from age 5 to age 10, the coaching staff we had grown close to moved up, therefore leaving us with a choice to stay at Bethesda and take a chance on less experienced coaches, or move our baseball to Heritage. With many referrals to the HRCA, we decided to take our chances. My son was drafted by Justin in the fall season, and it has been the most rewarding experience in all my son's years of baseball. Justin is a very passionate baseball coach. He is, most importantly, very passionate about instilling good character in the boys, and helping to achieve the level of confidence, necessary to become leaders. Justin's outlook has proven that giving 100% and learning from your experience is the most important aspect, and that winning is a bonus. With this type of leadership, our boys are sure to succeed in all they do. Justin sincerely loves our boys and has their best interest at heart. To go a step further with my confidence in Justin, as an individual, back in November, my son and I moved to Franklin. Because of our (my son and I) loyalty to the community, my son's friends, Heritage Middle School, and Heritage Baseball, we decided that my son would be best suited to stay at Heritage, rather than going to Hillsboro, where he is zoned. The school board granted our "out of zone" request, and grandfathered my son in at Heritage, as long as I could provide transportation. In order to do that, I would have to take my lunch hour, everyday, to pick my son up from school, which would not only cost a fortune in gas, but would cause a lot of stress, due to the hour of down time in a work day being spent rushing to get my son, and then rushing back to work. Justin offered to pick my son up, everyday from school, when his own kids preferred to ride the bus, and keep him until I could get him after work. My son has the utmost respect for Justin, as I do, and we think of him and his family, as our own family. Justin and his wife Cindy have been such a blessing to us.
In closing, I believe, with all my heart, that Justin Smith is and would be an incredible influence on our rising 6th, 7th and 8th grade boys, and would offer the utmost positive leadership for them all. Justin is a good man, a great individual, has very good morals, and would be an excellent baseball coach and leader for our boys and our community's future.
Please sign this petition and help me right this wrong that Williamson County Board of Education has sought. The future of our children depend on the adult leaders that surround them. We are very lucky to have an individual such as Justin, volunteering to be that leader.
Thank you.
My personal experience - My son began his baseball fever at the age of 4 and has played baseball every year, every season, since. While he played at Bethesda Rec from age 5 to age 10, the coaching staff we had grown close to moved up, therefore leaving us with a choice to stay at Bethesda and take a chance on less experienced coaches, or move our baseball to Heritage. With many referrals to the HRCA, we decided to take our chances. My son was drafted by Justin in the fall season, and it has been the most rewarding experience in all my son's years of baseball. Justin is a very passionate baseball coach. He is, most importantly, very passionate about instilling good character in the boys, and helping to achieve the level of confidence, necessary to become leaders. Justin's outlook has proven that giving 100% and learning from your experience is the most important aspect, and that winning is a bonus. With this type of leadership, our boys are sure to succeed in all they do. Justin sincerely loves our boys and has their best interest at heart. To go a step further with my confidence in Justin, as an individual, back in November, my son and I moved to Franklin. Because of our (my son and I) loyalty to the community, my son's friends, Heritage Middle School, and Heritage Baseball, we decided that my son would be best suited to stay at Heritage, rather than going to Hillsboro, where he is zoned. The school board granted our "out of zone" request, and grandfathered my son in at Heritage, as long as I could provide transportation. In order to do that, I would have to take my lunch hour, everyday, to pick my son up from school, which would not only cost a fortune in gas, but would cause a lot of stress, due to the hour of down time in a work day being spent rushing to get my son, and then rushing back to work. Justin offered to pick my son up, everyday from school, when his own kids preferred to ride the bus, and keep him until I could get him after work. My son has the utmost respect for Justin, as I do, and we think of him and his family, as our own family. Justin and his wife Cindy have been such a blessing to us.
In closing, I believe, with all my heart, that Justin Smith is and would be an incredible influence on our rising 6th, 7th and 8th grade boys, and would offer the utmost positive leadership for them all. Justin is a good man, a great individual, has very good morals, and would be an excellent baseball coach and leader for our boys and our community's future.
Please sign this petition and help me right this wrong that Williamson County Board of Education has sought. The future of our children depend on the adult leaders that surround them. We are very lucky to have an individual such as Justin, volunteering to be that leader.
Thank you.
