After seven years of teaching at FHN, art teacher Zack Smithey is resigning. Smithey made the official announcement on the Tuesday after Spring Break. His next pursuits include refining his art portfolio, achieving a Master’s in Fine Arts, and building furniture. At the very top of his list, though, is to focus on his career as a freelance artist- one who is solely dependent upon the things that they make.

“Hopefully in five year’s I’ll be showing my art in New York, in L.A., and other places in the world.” Smithey said. “I’ll make decisions in my life not on having to pay my bills but based on what I have to do to best serve society.”

A discussion on serving society would have probably taken place on one of Smithey’s Philosophy Fridays. However, that is not the only thing that will be missed in Room 165. Junior Lindsey Usry states that he is not like a regular teacher by helping people with what they are doing rather than teaching it to them. Senior Aryan Ramirez describes him as optimistic, philosophical, and outgoing. Denise Maples says that he was a key member of their group at North and that she will miss his friendship.

“His free spirit is something I definitely know I and the rest of the class are going to miss as a teacher,” junior Lindsey Usry said.

Perhaps more important than a lack of Philosophy Friday is the question of who will take on the classes that Mr. Smithey will no longer be teaching. Next year Mrs. Maples will take Smithey’s AP Art Studio, Mr. Leistner will teach Drawing I and II, and Ms. Mandy Knight will take Painting I and II. Knight has a Bachelor’s in Studio Art, Master’s in School Counseling, and is very excited to be a part of the FHN team.

“I’m happy for [Smithey] because this is what he wants to do,” Leistner said. “I’m also happy for Mandy Knight because she’s going to be getting a full-time job.”