William Ramsay fifth-graders wrote the poem and other students made a mosaic wall mural in his honor. Carl Smith is retiring after 36 years as a teacher and administrator in the Alexandria City Public School system but he will not be forgotten.

The mosaic represents all of the children here at Ramsay and how Mr. Smith has brought them together at our school, said Laura Wollman, the art teacher who, along with Christi Hart and Russell Jones, designed the mosaic, just outside the schools auditorium.

Mayor Bill Euille came to congratulate his old friend as well. The first time I met Carl we were eighth-graders at Jefferson Junior High School.

After Jefferson Junior High, Smith went on to George Washington High School where he graduated in 1968. After high school, he got his bachelors and masters degrees at George Mason University. He is married and has four children. He and his wife, Marsha, live in Del Ray.

I am speechless, Smith said. Really, I dont know what to say. All of you are here tonight for me. The students wrote that wonderful poem for me. They made this wonderful mosaic for me. I am very grateful to all of you and will always remember my years here at Ramsay, which is a wonderful school.