Principal

I am excited to be serving the Cyclone family in my new leadership role as Principal of Smith Middle School! I previously had the proud honor of serving Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools as a classroom teacher, interventionist, affinity group leader, and equity champion from 2008-2016 at McDougle Elementary. During that time, I had the pleasure of working with some of the best students, families, and staff Chapel Hill has to offer. It has warmed my heart to reconnect with former students, families, and friends as Smith's Assistant Principal (2019-2021) and Principal. This is my twenty-sixth year in education. I received my Bachelors in Education from Fayetteville State University and my Masters of School Administration from North Carolina Central University. I enjoy reading, fishing and traveling with my family. Every child we serve deserves to feel that school is his or her home away from home. As Principal, I appreciate the opportunity to help maintain a nurturing and welcoming environment where students are excited to come to school to learn and grow every day.

Assistant Principal

I began my career in education as a secondary school counselor in 1998.  As such, the forging of positive relationships with students, parents, and staff is a top priority for me.  In 2010, I transitioned into school leadership because I wished to be an active agent of school reform and maximized potential for all students.  After serving as its Principal Intern in 2011-2012, I returned to Smith Middle School in July 2018 as Assistant Principal after serving Carrboro High School in the same capacity from 2012-2018. I have actually spent time as an educator at all three levels in four NC school districts, and even as a private consultant specializing in the development of high school transition programs.  I have a B.A. in Political Science from UNC-Greensboro, a Masters of Counselor Education from NC State, and a Masters of School Administration from UNC Chapel Hill. More recently, I earned my Ed.D. in Educational Leadership at UNC Chapel Hill in 2017 after successfully defending my dissertation, the focus of which was equity as evidenced through high school scheduling and teacher assignment practices.  I am also a certified scuba diver, avid Tar Heels basketball fan, and nerdy comic book collector who enjoys working out and traveling (especially to Walt Disney World with my family!). We are a Smith family for sure--not only do I work at SMS but both of my kids completed middle school here, too! Go Cyclones!!

I am thrilled to have joined Ms. McAllister and Dr. Hawkins as part of our administrative team. I have had the honor of serving the Cyclone community for the past eight years as a Theatre and English Language Arts teacher, where I have enjoyed building relationships with Smith students, families, and staff through classroom endeavors, theatre productions, Global Connections, and summer programs.

Before calling North Carolina my home, I grew up in Cary, Illinois, where we call soda “pop” and think Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T. I have eighteen years of classroom and leadership experience with a Bachelor’s of Science in Teaching from Winona State in Minnesota and a master’s degree in school administration from the College of New Jersey. A highlight of my education career was teaching for nine years at international schools in exciting places such as Spain, Kuwait, China, and Russia. I once had a class where students came from twelve different countries! Outside of school, my husband and I keep busy with our 6th grade son Harrison, also a Cyclone, and 5th grader Connor. When I’m not on the sidelines of my boys’ soccer or baseball games, I try to find time for Crossfit, paddle boarding, the beach, musicals or adding to my earring collection. 

I have seen the brilliant work of our diverse Smith community, and it is with pride that I will continue to support our outstanding students, families, and staff in this administrative role. I am here to collaborate with you all to ensure the success of all of our students.