As Smyth is sitting at his desk, one of the students he coaches and counsels comes to his desk clearly distraught. He’s known this student since they started back at MCHS and knows how to help; show active listening while the student talks about what’s going on.

Gavin Smyth, once a student here at MCHS is back and interning to be a school counselor. In his time here he’s also been a substitute teacher, assistant coach for both the frosh/soph football team as well as the boys wrestling team and a trusted adult to many of the kids he’s come across.

“Mr. Smyth has done a great job of continuing to connect with the sophomore students who he met as freshman last year when he was in the classroom,” Nicole Baciagalupo, the sophomore counselor (A-La) says, “It is clear that students feel comfortable meeting with him and discussing their concerns.”

Smyth’s first full year of being a counseling intern has clearly gone well according to almost anyone you ask. Many students who have him as their counselor or coach, the adults he works with and even the parents he’s come in contact with.

Sophomore at MCHS, Eva Smith says, “I see Smyth as someone I can come to about any school-wide and even outside-school concerns because you can tell he actually tries to understand and shows active listening.”

Even in his coaching, Smyth liked to make sure his athletes stayed in the right mindset. Always helping them keep up with homework and encouraging them to push themselves to get better.
Says sophomore wrestler DAngelo Davis, “Mr. Smyth really helped all of our students grow better and have a better performance like being on top of everything.”

Coaching was something Smyth knew he wanted to be a part of. Connecting with kids on another level outside of school meant a lot to him. He wanted to be able to see his students grow not only academically and emotionally but athletically as well.

“I primarily coach the Freshman/Sophomore team,” Smyth says, “the ‘frosh/soph’ team has gone 14-20 since I’ve been coaching.”

While Smyth is still a new and unfamiliar face to some students and even adults in the building, the ones he comes in contact with will always say he can make them feel seen and heard in any situation that is brought up to him.