Faculty and Staff
Joe Smith
Principal LYNX
Joe Smith brings a lifetime of passion for both education and the natural world to his leadership role as Principal of the LYNX program. Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Joe's formative connection with nature was forged through the Boy Scouts. Progressing from Cub Scout to Adult Leader, he immersed himself in the outdoors, developing skills and appreciation through hiking, camping, swimming, canoeing, and wilderness survival training.
During high school, Joe demonstrated significant dedication and athletic prowess, particularly in wrestling. His commitment led to multiple championships at the City, Provincial, and Western Canadian levels, culminating in being named Alberta’s Most Valuable Wrestler in 1977. This drive and discipline seamlessly transitioned into his academic pursuits.
Joe’s enthusiasm for teaching and sport naturally guided him to the University of Calgary, where he earned both a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and a Bachelor of Physical Education (BPe). Despite achieving academic awards, he remained dedicated to outdoor pursuits, actively leading youth groups as a Boy Scout Leader, sharing his love for wilderness experiences and participating in major jamborees.
His professional teaching career began at Busby School, a K-6 public school in rural Alberta. There, Joe initiated a competitive sports program, inspiring students to successfully challenge and outperform established teams across the division.
In 1999, drawn back towards his southern Alberta roots, Joe moved to Okotoks and joined Edison School. His tenure there spanned teaching grades 3 through 12 and holding various leadership positions. Joe established Edison's highly respected badminton program, coaching teams from divisional underdogs to champions in a remarkably short time. Furthermore, he pursued qualifications in Outdoor Education, launching dynamic programs that enabled junior and senior high students to actively engage with the outdoors through canoeing, hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, and sailing. These initiatives often involved multi-day field trips, including ambitious six-week excursions on blue-water sailing ships and an international study trip to Europe.
Joe joined Third Schools in 2010, embracing diverse teaching and leadership roles. Initially at Third Academy, he worked closely with children requiring specialized support. His leadership capabilities were recognized with a promotion to Principal of Third Academy’s South Campus in 2012. Consistently, his passion for adventure and the outdoors infused his approach, leading to numerous overnight study trips to the mountains and other inspiring locations.
In 2015, when Third Schools launched its home-based education program (initially "Willow Home Ed"), Joe was appointed its founding Principal. Under his guidance, the program experienced significant growth, expanding from 86 to approximately 1500 students.
Joe was instrumental in the conception and launch of the LYNX program. He spearheaded its development from a pilot project in Canmore, Alberta, relocating it to Calgary and subsequently overseeing its expansion into Cochrane, Okotoks, and currently launching in Edmonton this year (2025).
Joe firmly believes that the future of education lies in innovative hybrid programming. His vision, embodied in LYNX, integrates a strong academic foundation with essential experiential, hands-on learning that takes place in the unparalleled classroom of the outdoors.
During high school, Joe demonstrated significant dedication and athletic prowess, particularly in wrestling. His commitment led to multiple championships at the City, Provincial, and Western Canadian levels, culminating in being named Alberta’s Most Valuable Wrestler in 1977. This drive and discipline seamlessly transitioned into his academic pursuits.
Joe’s enthusiasm for teaching and sport naturally guided him to the University of Calgary, where he earned both a Bachelor of Education (BEd) and a Bachelor of Physical Education (BPe). Despite achieving academic awards, he remained dedicated to outdoor pursuits, actively leading youth groups as a Boy Scout Leader, sharing his love for wilderness experiences and participating in major jamborees.
His professional teaching career began at Busby School, a K-6 public school in rural Alberta. There, Joe initiated a competitive sports program, inspiring students to successfully challenge and outperform established teams across the division.
In 1999, drawn back towards his southern Alberta roots, Joe moved to Okotoks and joined Edison School. His tenure there spanned teaching grades 3 through 12 and holding various leadership positions. Joe established Edison's highly respected badminton program, coaching teams from divisional underdogs to champions in a remarkably short time. Furthermore, he pursued qualifications in Outdoor Education, launching dynamic programs that enabled junior and senior high students to actively engage with the outdoors through canoeing, hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, and sailing. These initiatives often involved multi-day field trips, including ambitious six-week excursions on blue-water sailing ships and an international study trip to Europe.
Joe joined Third Schools in 2010, embracing diverse teaching and leadership roles. Initially at Third Academy, he worked closely with children requiring specialized support. His leadership capabilities were recognized with a promotion to Principal of Third Academy’s South Campus in 2012. Consistently, his passion for adventure and the outdoors infused his approach, leading to numerous overnight study trips to the mountains and other inspiring locations.
In 2015, when Third Schools launched its home-based education program (initially "Willow Home Ed"), Joe was appointed its founding Principal. Under his guidance, the program experienced significant growth, expanding from 86 to approximately 1500 students.
Joe was instrumental in the conception and launch of the LYNX program. He spearheaded its development from a pilot project in Canmore, Alberta, relocating it to Calgary and subsequently overseeing its expansion into Cochrane, Okotoks, and currently launching in Edmonton this year (2025).
Joe firmly believes that the future of education lies in innovative hybrid programming. His vision, embodied in LYNX, integrates a strong academic foundation with essential experiential, hands-on learning that takes place in the unparalleled classroom of the outdoors.