JANS – On April 3, 2024, the Mississippi House of Representatives, led by Rep. Zakiya Summers (MS-68), presented a resolution commending Charles “Smarty Pants” King Jr. for his many years of passionate dedication to educating youth throughout the state of Mississippi. The recognition was also aimed at congratulating him upon his retirement.
For more than 30 years, Charles “Smarty Pants” King Jr. has inspired youth throughout this state by teaching them the importance of having an education, the importance of loving themselves, and giving practical life surviving techniques.
In 1980, Charles King created Smarty Pants Educational Services, using his unique techniques to teach children. He chose the elephant as the face of the organization because in his words, “It’s the largest land mammal.” With the utilization of magic, brain teasers, and more than 2,000 pieces of artwork, Smarty Pants reached thousands of children over his three decades of service. One of his pieces, for example, is an elaborate collage illustration of objects and symbols. Each object carries a tiny letter and each letter corresponds to a key, which accompanies the piece and touts a historical event or fact he used to teach Black history.
A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. King spent much of his childhood in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he did not feel like he learned to think in school. He was an optimistic kid with a lot of imagination who believed his teachers stifled his creativity by telling him, “No, you can’t do it that way.” These experiences motivated him to create a business that allowed him to teach children to think – not more like him, but think using their own imagination.
He moved to Mississippi to care for his grandfather, but continued to grow the company and took the “catch them where they are” approach to teaching children, understanding that each child learns differently and that teachers must adapt.
“If a child can’t learn the way I teach, then I must learn to teach the way he can learn,” he said.
Mr. King taught children how to stay drug free to techniques that maximize learning.
“It is most appropriate that we celebrate the efforts of Mississippians who teach and inspire our youth, who are this state’s future. Mr. King is an inspiration to us all,” said Rep. Summers. “It was my honor to present this resolution to Mr. King and add this tribute to the annals of history for the state. We are indebted to his service.”
The resolution was also signed by the Speaker of the House Rep. Jason White (MS-48), Rep. William “Bo” Brown (MS-70), Rep. Earle S. Banks (MS-67), and Rep. Justis Gibbs (MS-72).
