Cool kids: Eighth-grader in a class of her own

Post Falls Middle School student Hailey Smith excels academically and athletically, and she exhibits great leadership qualities in her role as class president. But her teachers have recognized another talent as well. They say Hailey is as competent as any teacher in her ability to lead a class full of students.

“She is as good as any teacher I have ever seen,” said Ann Cunningham, the school’s gifted and talented program facilitator.

Hailey is in the eighth-grade honors English class and is the assistant teacher for the sixth-grade honors English course at her school.

Julia Rendall, the sixth-grade teacher, prepares the curriculum for the class, then Hailey steps in and takes the lessons to the next level.

“She asks probing questions and can think on her feet really well,” Cunningham said.

Hailey enjoys the time she spends three days a week teaching the students who are two years her junior.

“They are really enthusiastic learners,” said Hailey. “We study novels, poetry and anything to do with English.”

She adds that the younger students look up to her. “They see me in the halls or at lunch and come to me and ask questions.”

Hailey’s love of English is not confined to the four walls of her classroom. She considers writing one of her favorite pastimes.

“I like to write almost every day,” said Hailey, who has earned awards in several essay and short story contests.

Her current project is a novel that she hopes to have published one day. The book, which she has titled “Aboard the Train of Faith,” is a story about a slave girl who lived in the South during the mid-1800s.

“The theme (in the novel) is that it takes a lot of perseverance to achieve your dreams,” Hailey said. Hailey, who is currently working on chapter seven, said her book will have approximately 23 chapters when she is finished.

Cunningham has no doubt Hailey’s book will find its way to an interested publisher.

“She is one of the most gifted writers I have ever seen,” Cunningham said. “I am in awe of her.”

In addition to her academic success, Hailey also serves as class president and is praised by the faculty for the several fundraisers she has organized.

“She has done a lot of volunteer work,” said Cunningham, who recently nominated Hailey for the Mayor’s Youth Award for her activities both in and out of school.

“Every quarter I like to set up a service project,” said Hailey, who has spearheaded two cancer drives as well as the coats-for-kids drive. She also encouraged fellow students to collect clothes, backpacks and school supplies for area children.

During the summer Hailey volunteers at Kootenai Medical Center. As a teen volunteer, she works two days a week in four-hour shifts. Part of her time is spent in the day care, and other times she can be found at the information desk, helping to deliver mail and flowers to the patients.

Hailey is also involved in sports, participating on both the track and field and dance teams as well as on the cheerleading squad.

As for the future, Hailey originally set her sights on becoming a freelance journalist, but, on a suggestion from Cunningham, she’s now thinking about owning a publishing company.

Whatever path Hailey chooses in life, Cunningham is sure she will be a success.

“Someday I will stand in line (at a book signing), and hopefully she will autograph her book for me and will remember who I am,” Cunningham said.