BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. -- Addison Smith walks the halls of Crosspointe Elementary School in Boynton Beach every day school is in session, or you'll find him outside in the car pickup line.
Smith says family and friends call him the "gentle giant."
The Palm Beach County School District posted a photo this week of the 6-foot 3-inch student behavorial health professional sitting on the school floor with a voluntary prekindergarten student.
A teacher walking in the hallway captured the moment. "Patience is everything patience is very important and being able to be empathetic is really big for that too."
Smith says it's all about relating to each child and what they need in the moment. "Because if they can't trust you or if they feel they can't be themselves and really open up to you," he says. After their talk what happened next was funny ... trying to stand up. "So I waited until it cleared, looked around and I kind of rolled to get back up, it was hilarious," he recalled.
All kidding aside, Smith's job is serious. He's helping students whether it's their mental well-being or coping with homelessness. He says, "My action in that picture was out of love, love for a kid, love for what I do and just pure love for myself. and if we can all treat each other with that same love and respect things will be a lot different."
