SMITHFIELD – Any student in the past 11 years who took computer science courses at Smithfield High School has Michael Deslauriers to thank, and the Smithfield School Department has extended its own thanks and recognition to the math teacher in naming him the 2021 Smithfield Teacher of the Year. During a presentation at Monday’s meeting, Supt. Judy Paolucci said Deslauriers began teaching in 2001, and soon after recognized a need for students to learn computer science, beginning classes in 2010. After years of teaching all-male computer science classes, Deslauriers began exploring ways to bring girls into the computer science classroom and other courses. Paolucci said Deslauriers brought in grants to create two new programs, computer science and information technology, focused on bridging the disparity of females in computer science and technology.