Gary Smit knows education. He was a superintendent for 25 years in Illinois and Wisconsin and has been a school principal and classroom teacher. His expertise from being in the trenches is evident in the one-day awareness seminar presentations he gives on character education and school leadership. Gary is a trainer for the CHARACTER COUNTS! Character Development Seminar and the Pursuing Victory With Honor initiative. In addition to his work in schools, he teaches CHARACTER COUNTS! to the Child and Youth Services staff of the U.S. Army and presents one-day workshops on “Living Up to the Public Trust: Ethical and Risk-Management Issues for School Administrators.” Taking the perspective that the goal of education is not only to have students do their best academic work but to be their best self, Gary provides educators with useful and relevant strategies to use in building classrooms and schools of character. An attention-grabbing and practical presenter, Gary gives keynote addresses for schools and districts that speak not only to the head but the heart. No one leaves without grasping the passion and desire to live a life in which character truly matters.