Brandon Smith

5th Grade Teacher

My name is Brandon Smith, I was born and raised in Durban, South Africa. I started my teaching journey as a student intern at a private boys school in South Africa. During this time I completed my degree in Psychology and following on from that I completed my Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). In 2018, just a few months after my wife and I got married, we moved to Stockholm, Sweden where I was part of the special education department at the Internationella Engelska Skolan. During this time I worked mainly with students who had learning difficulties. This was the most incredibly fulfilling experience for me and I thoroughly enjoyed working closely with my students and helping them overcome their barriers to learning.

In 2020 I started working as a Junior Practitioner at The Autism Project, a nonprofit organization. At TAP we focused on behavioral therapy and interventions for children with ASD. This experience was challenging, but seeing the growth in my students through individual specific interventions was extremely rewarding. It taught me that each student is unique and their learning styles differ too. 

In 2021 I started my role as a 3rd  grade teacher and I have loved every moment being in the classroom and teaching young students to become the best versions of themselves. 

I have just recently moved to the USA with my wife, Tara who is completing her masters in singing and songwriting at the LA College of Music. I will also be representing the USA Mens Touch Rugby team who will be competing at the Touch Rugby World Cup in England in July 2024. We are so looking forward to our journey in the United States and I cannot wait to be part of the warrior team.

brandon.smith@therockacademy.org
619.764.5200