John I. Smith K-8 Center was founded in 1996, We were the first elementary school in Doral. Today, we educate over 1,700 students with a staff of more than 200 teachers and support personnel. In 2011 we began the transformation into a K-8 Center. In 2013-14, with the addition of our first eighth grade class, the transition is complete.
Our school was named after John I. Smith, General Manager at the Cloverleaf Bowling Lanes from 1958 until his retirement in 1990. He would bring in groups of special-education students on Saturdays. He began an Outstanding Scholarship award at several North Dade schools, a Turnaround award for those students who made positive changes, and a Community Service award at many schools. When the district began its Dade Partners program nearly 20 years ago, Smith was its first enrollee; today there are nearly 3000 partners.
