Karen and Curt Smith Are Ensuring Cheshire Academy’s Future Is Bright

When Karen Smith answered an ad for a substitute science and math teacher at Cheshire Academy in 1976, she figured she’d be on campus for a few weeks, tops. “And then I stayed...for 45 years,” the Cheshire resident said, relaxing with her husband, Curt, at their cozy home not far from the school.

It’s no wonder. After teaching in public schools with classes of 30 students or more, Karen was energized by the possibilities she found at Cheshire: small classes tailor-made for the kind of personalized, experiential teaching she enjoyed with students from different countries and cultures, bringing the richness of diversity to their lively discussions.

It’s these attributes of the Cheshire experience that the Smiths still love—and support. As longtime members of the Harwood Society for Planned Giving, the couple has made Cheshire a philanthropic priority, ensuring the Academy will deliver its signature brand of world-class education well into the future.

“We started small,” said Karen. “It’s a gradual thing. As we went on in life, we were very frugal, and we have done very well. We wanted to invest in what’s important to us.” After years of teaching chemistry, Karen enjoyed working with students served by the Roxbury Academic Support Program. The Smiths’ sons, Rick and Dave, worked at the school and Curt, upon retiring from the company he started, picked up a job as a driver for the Richmond Health Center. With their home nearby he was able, at a moment’s notice, to ferry students to both medical and dental appointments.

“I would always ask the kids where they were from and we’d talk. I knew more kids than she did at one point,” he joked.

The Smiths were able to personalize their gifts to the school. Curt established the Karen J. Smith Scholarship Award for Scholastic Improvement given each year at Commencement to honor his wife. Their continued support ensured the award will be funded for years to come.