Donald Smith
Los Angeles
Summary
Experienced educational leader specializing in curriculum development and program implementation. Led redesign of assessment metrics and launched initiatives that enhanced student achievement and fostered collaboration. Committed to student advocacy and effective communication.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Middle School
The Buckley School
07.2021 - Current
- Led Senior Leadership Team in redesigning a system to better utilize department chairs with respect to their reporting structure and growth trajectory.
- In partnership with the Admissions Team, I created diverse ways to collect data on students/families interested in the school - designing four 25-minute rotations, evaluating students' ability to collaborate with other students, utilize analytical skills/deductive reasoning, and problem solving skills.
- Wrote and produced a song, "Just Another Day at Buckley", featuring a video with students and teachers across all divisions, enhancing school spirit and excitement for prospective families during Admissions events.
- Used data to re-tool assessment metrics, enabling more accurate measurement(s) of student achievement, particularly in Math and English.
- Developed a system that collected data on student academic and social challenges.
- Implemented a new Advisory program for 6 - 8 grade students, which included thematic lessons/activities that culminated into student-centered group projects.
- Incorporated a new math curriculum and program with the goal of horizontal and vertical (including lower school) alignment.
- Created Passport System to streamline electives program, categorizing electives as continents and classes as countries, increasing student engagement and interest.
- Created a Portrait of a Graduate Mastery Series of courses that align with the pillars of the Portrait of a Graduate and support the strategic plan.
- Created a capstone project for 8th graders which includes a self-reflection and project in alignment with the Portrait of a Graduate.
- Led cell phone/electronic devices initiative, collaborating with stakeholders to implement Yondr Pouches, supporting school policy and promoting peer interaction.
- Created a Peer After School Tutoring Program - high school to middle school students where high school students receive Service Hours and MS students receive free tutoring for up to two days per week.
Assistant Director of Middle School
Brentwood School
08.2017 - 06.2021
- Created Advisory curriculum for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades as the Assistant Director of the Middle School.
- Developed Thematic Strands for Advisory - Core Values, Community Building, Academic Support, and Multiculturalism. Each strand led to different lessons in each grade level with the goal of adequately meeting the varying developmental needs.
- Led Student Council, professional development around multiculturalism with the faculty, ran grade level meetings, student discipline, and varying leadership initiatives.
- Provided feedback and support in the general growth and development of teachers through observation and feedback.
- Co-developed workshops for faculty around training and expectations within a remote/virtual environment.
- Facilitated K-12 DEI trainings in partnership with VISIONS INC., enhancing faculty understanding and implementation of inclusive practices.
- Developed data-driven tracking system for academic and social student behaviors, enabling administrative team to make informed recommendations for restorative justice processes and academic support.
- Developed a curricular audit to help develop "through-lines" within curriculum and to assess "gaps" based on varying parameters - thematic vs chronological sequencing of history content, reading levels and relevancy of material in English to name a few - also with a DEI lens to ensure all students have access and opportunity for personal validation within curriculum.
- Co-created curriculum based on a Global History, which complemented the English content for 7th grade students. The work included accounting for language arts skills, history skills, and differentiation for myriad learning levels.
7th/8th Grade Humanities Teacher and Advisory Coordinator
Wildwood School
08.2008 - 06.2017
- Co-created American History and Global History curriculum for 7th and 8th grade students, integrating language arts and history skills while differentiating for multi-age classrooms and diverse learning levels.
- Coordinated Division 2 (7th and 8th grade) Advisory Program, guiding teachers through curriculum focused on community building, academic support, multiculturalism, and personal/social development, delivered 5 days per week with lessons designed to meet each strand's goals.
- Developed and implemented Advisory curriculum for middle school students, focusing on community and academic support.
- Led the Multicultural Leadership Team in the middle school, which included the creation of a multicultural curriculum in multiple disciplines, as well as Advisory programming.
- Led and co-created 2 workshops at People Of Color Convention, guiding participants on presenting business cases for multicultural initiatives and building internal multicultural leadership teams with faculty and administration involvement.
- Served on a finance committee, which included the head of school, assistant head of school, 2 teachers, and the CFO to redesign pay-scale and employee benefits for teachers. This included a comparative analysis of payment scales/benefits of other independent schools as well as the creation of a survey, designed to include teacher voice in the process.
Assistant Teacher/Lead Sub
The Oaks School
08.2006 - 06.2008
- Substituted for lead teachers across multiple grades, ensuring continuity of instruction and support for students.
- Assisted in three different grades daily by delivering lessons, grading assignments, managing classrooms, and supporting students with IEPs.
- Supported lead teacher in developing lesson plans and classroom activities.
- Assisted students with learning tasks and provided individual attention.
- Organized classroom materials and maintained a tidy learning environment.
Education
Master of Arts Degree - Organizational/Private School Leadership
Columbia University - Teachers College/Klingenstein Institute
New York, NY01-2020
Bachelor of Science Degree - Secondary English Education
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA01-1998
Skills
- Curriculum development
- Program implementation
- Project management
- Classroom management
- Student assessment
- Classroom observation
- Community engagement
- Parent engagement
- Leadership
- Conflict resolution
- Effective communication
- Interpersonal communication
- Administration and management
- Problem-solving aptitude
- Student advocacy
- Presentation skills
Skills Qualifications Misc
- Certification of Achievement in Conflict Resolution
- National Teachers Exam Certified
- California Basic Education Skills Test Certified
- SoCal POCIS Board Member & Chair of the Programs Subcommittee
- Bessie Bruington Burke Award for Educational Excellence
Timeline
Head of Middle School
The Buckley School
07.2021 - Current
Assistant Director of Middle School
Brentwood School
08.2017 - 06.2021
7th/8th Grade Humanities Teacher and Advisory Coordinator
Wildwood School
08.2008 - 06.2017
Assistant Teacher/Lead Sub
The Oaks School
08.2006 - 06.2008
Master of Arts Degree - Organizational/Private School Leadership
Columbia University - Teachers College/Klingenstein Institute
Bachelor of Science Degree - Secondary English Education
Duquesne University