Thank You for 29 Years Ms. Smith!

A Cody High School legend is set to retire today.  September 30, 2026 will be the last day that Charolette Smith teaches at Cody High School in Room 111.  We met up with Smith on her last day at Cody High. She was in her historic Room 111 passing out cup cakes, oranges, juice and cookies to her students. 

Smith has been with the Detroit Public Schools Community District for 29 years. She worked at Cooley High until 2010, when the doors of Cooley High closed. Her next stop would make her a household name with every Senior at Cody High School.  "I started at Cody in 2010 after they closed Cooley."  For the past 25 years, Smith has led the Senior Class with love and a true passion for excellence.  

We would like to take this time to express our appreciation to Ms. Smith for her many years of service, dedication, time and every effort she put into not only the Cody High School students over the years, but to every student that she has ever poured into throughout the district.  

One of the legacies she will leave behind will be that of our beloved mascot, Cosmo the Comet.  Smith purchased the Cosmo Costume in 2018.  When it arrived it was a Lion Costume.  Come to find out, Cosmo was shipped incorrectly to a church in Arkansas and the Lion belonged to them.  The mix up was fixed and Cosmo made to his final destination in Detroit Michigan before Thanksgiving. Smith has been responsible for choosing the student and keeping their identity a secret for many years.  

Congratulations Ms. Smith on your retirement. Thank you for allowing us all the opportunity to be a part of your building memories here at Cody High School.