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Schools across Iowa are full of lessons on math, reading and writing. But one educator is making sure she teaches her students some of life's greatest lessons of empathy and perseverance. <OH MY GOODNESS. WHAT'S FOR LUNCH TODAY?> It is lunch time at Paton Churdan -- As kindergartners gobble up mashed potatoes - <I AM SOAKING WET. (LAUGHTER) OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS.> Giggles erupt over messes - <IT WENT ALL OVER DIDN'T IT.> And principal Annie Smith swoops in. <DID YOU GET ALL WIPED OFF THEN? HOW ABOUT WHEN WE ARE FINISHED EATING TODAY WE CAN WIPE THAT OFF, OK?> Her laughter fills the room - <(MRS. SMITH GIGGLING) GOOD JOB PAL!> Making every kiddo feel at ease. <SHE ALWAYS HELPS US, AND SHE MAKES US BETTER WHEN WE ARE SAD.> <SHE IS JUST THE BEST PRINCIPAL.> As Principal - her day ánever ends. <JUST THAT REVOLVING DOOR. A LOT OF PROBLEM SOLVING....> Nor does her love for áevery student. <HI DOLLY. (HUG) GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? HOW WAS YOUR BREAK? GOOD. GOOD YOU HAD A GOOD ONE.> Getting in coutless hugs and steps a day - <A LOT (GIGGLES).> She makes sure everybody is where they need to be. <DO YOU HAVE YOUR CURRENT EVENT DONE? I'M WORKING. OK KEEP WORKING.> <WHEN PEOPLE HEAR PATON CHURDAN THEY THINK FAMILY. WE ARE JUST ONE BIG FAMILY AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF HER.> Less than 200 students K-12 make up the district. <I'LL BE AT WALMART (YEAH YOU GUYS COME ON THROUGH) BE AT WALMART BUYING SOMETHING. THEY WILL SAY 'OH FOR YOUR KIDS. HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE?' I'LL SAY, I HAVE 187 OR WHATEVER IT IS AT THAT TIME. (TURNS AND LOOKS AT LINE WALKING BY). GOOD JOB YOU GUYS. GOOD JOB!> Smith's devotion to her kids is clear - by the many hats she wears. <SHE'S NOT AFRAID TO ANSWER THE PHONE. SHE'S NOT AFRAID TO HELP ME IF SHE HEARS WE'RE STRUGGLING OUT HERE.> From manning the front desk - to reffing games. <I'M LIKE WHY IS ANNIE IN A REFFING OUTFIT?? AND OUR SECRETARY WAS LIKE WE COULDN'T GET A REFEREE SO HERE ANNIE IS REFFING. SO THAT'S LIKE TWO HOURS RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE COURT REFFING A GAME.> <DID YOU HAVE CHEERLEADING? DID YOU GUYS HAVE CHEERLEADING THIS WEEKEND? NO CHEER COMPETITION?> When you see her boundless energy - you would never know the personal struggle Principal Smith deals with every day. <I HAD A FEW JUST OFF THINGS IN 2010-2011.> Tingling, numbness and pain led Smith to a neurologist ... and a diagnosis that changed her life. <IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT I HAD THE MARKINGS FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS.> An autoimmune disorder where the body attacks itself by mistake. <I WAS VERY DOWN. VERY SAD. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HELD FOR ME.> The mother of four - stunned with this life altering news - says one decision changed her life. <YOU KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE MS, BUT MS DOES NOT HAVE YOU AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO LET IT CONTROL YOU. I MADE A DECISION ON THAT CERTAIN DAY AND HAVE NOT LOOKED BACK SINCE.> With a goal to hike every national park - Smith lives life to the fullest even on her hard days. <I THINK IT'S ONE THING TO TELL A CHILD THINGS MIGHT NOW ALWAYS BE EASY, BUT YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS, AND TO ACTUALLY LIVE THAT - THAT IS WHAT SHE DOES.> <WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.> Not only does she show up - But Principal Smith has made it her mission to educate. <NO ONE CAN CATCH IT. IT'S JUST SOMETHING GOING ON INSIDE HER BODY, AND THEY THINK THE GOOD GERMS ARE THE BAD GERMS.> Her openness about MS - is eye opening for students. <SHE SAID SOMETIMES SHE HAS DAYS WHERE SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GET OUT OF BED, BUT SHE STILL DOES AND SOMETIMES THEY HAVE TO HELP HER BRUSH HER TEETH AND STUFF.> <JUST BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY SHOW THAT THERE ARE DAYS THAT I AM NOT HAVING A GOOD DAY EITHER OR THERE ARE DAYS WHERE IT IS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO PHYSICALLY GET OUT OF BED, BUT I GET UP AND I DO THAT. NOT BECAUSE I WANT A MEDAL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT I DO THAT BECAUSE I JUST WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOOD DAYS AND WE HAVE BAD DAYS AND WE HAVE TO PERSERVERE THROUGH THEM, AND WE ALL CAN DO HARD THINGS AND THEN WHEN WE DO DO THOSE HARD THINGS WE DO FEEL BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES.> And that message - is sticking. <IT HELPS ME A LOT BECAUSE THEN I KNOW THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO GET THROUGH REALLY HARD DAYS.> <NEVER LET THEM GET IN YOUR WAY.> <YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE SAD. YOU COULD STILL HAVE A GOOD DAY AND A GOOD LIFE.> <ALWAYS HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF AND TO ALWAYS BELIEVE.> Because inside these walls - love and empathy - are taught first. THE COMPASSION AND THE LOVE THAT SHE SHOWS TO THE KIDS AND THE RELATIONSHIP THAT SHE BUILDS WITH THEM, I THINK IS REALLY AMAZING.> <I KNOW EVERY TEACHER IN THIS BUILDING LOOKS AFTER MY KIDS, AND THEN I KNOW ANNIE LOOKS AFTER ME, AND EVEN ON HER WORST DAY SHE STILL DOES THAT. (NODS)> <YOU GUYS GETTING DONE? ARE YOU DONE? (HUG) GOOD JOB BUDDY. ALRIGHT. (HUG) DID YOU GIVE YOUR BEST?> A principal - who is also a walking example - that not all days are good.... but there is good in every day. <WE ARE ALL GIVE