DEPUTY SAM Smiley stood at the front of the fifth-grade classroom, feeling the weight of expectant eyes. As he asked the students to name responsibilities at home or school, some answered eagerly, others fidgeted with pencils or shifted in their seats, glancing sideways to see who would speak first. A few raised their hands, testing whether he meant it when he said their voices mattered.
He had prepared for weeks, but standing in front of the students for the first time still stirred a flicker of uncertainty.
“My nerves kind of went away after the first lesson,” Smiley shared. “After the first two or three weeks, I could see the trust was being built. It was really surprising.”
Stepping into the classroom changed everything — his perspective, his purpose, and ultimately, his path.
After 22 years in law enforcement, Smiley once pictured his next career move leading to investigations. Instead, he found something unexpected in D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) — a calling to invest in the next generation.
“Public speaking and working with kids outside of my own family was completely new for me, and honestly, a little intimidating at first,” Smiley said. “But during the D.A.R.E. Officer Training, something shifted. The program didn’t just teach us how to teach, it helped me understand the real impact we can have on these kids’ lives … it just clicked. I stopped seeing it as stepping out of my comfort zone and started seeing it as stepping into my purpose.”
Smiley credits his wife, Melissa, for encouraging him to take on the new challenge. Balancing patrol duties with classroom teaching hasn’t been easy, but Smiley is building something lasting with his students with the support and backing of his shift at the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Over 10 weeks, Smiley taught fifth graders at Unity, Flintville, Blanche, South Lincoln, and Highland Rim schools about responsibility, decision-making, peer pressure, and self-esteem. As the weeks passed, the lessons became less about the workbook and more about small, daily moments that build trust — a kind word, a listening ear, and a safe space to ask hard questions.
“They’ve reminded me how important it is to be genuine,” Smiley said. “Even small moments … can have a big impact.”
Students began leaving notes in the D.A.R.E. box he kept in the classroom — private questions they didn’t feel comfortable asking out loud. Some waited after class to talk. Others sought him out in the hallways just to say hello or ask for advice. What started as a program to teach students how to make safe choices quickly grew into something stronger — a bridge of trust between young people and law enforcement.
Nearly 300 fifth graders across Lincoln County graduated from the program in May. For Smiley, the ceremony is as much about knowing he helped create real, meaningful connections as it is about certificates and celebrations.
“If even one student feels more comfortable reaching out because of D.A.R.E.,” he said, “then we’re doing something right.” GN
