Colleen Redman For The Floyd Press
Sandra Smith has taught for the Floyd County Public School system since the fall of 1971. From kindergarten to high school, she teaches chorus and piano and, in some cases, has taught three generations of the same family.
Tenth-grader AJ Cantrell, one of Smithâs students since elementary school, recently dropped by her choir room classroom to go over the 2021 graduation music program and to update Smith on his YouTube music video channel.
âIâm just a little proud,â Smith said with a smile after viewing one of Cantrellâs videos.
Cantrell, who is an all-state chorus winner, sings and plays piano at his home church, Slate Mountain Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and other churches. His parents, Laura and Travis, and his maternal grandfather, Joel Pratt, were also taught by Smith. Some original songs written and performed by Pratt, a retired FCPS art teacher, are included on Cantrellâs YouTube channel. Othe