Dr. Jacquelyn Smith, who previously worked at Nash Elementary and Kilpatrick Elementary, now brings her extensive experience to her role as assistant principal at Texas High. During her 16-year career in education, Smith dedicated four years to Kilpatrick Elementary and 11 years to Nash Elementary, where she spent seven years as a teacher and four years as an assistant principal.
Her deep-rooted passion for education is evident in her career progression and commitment to her roles. Originally, Smith aimed to become an instructional coach; however, during her coursework for this position, she discovered an affinity for the role of assistant principal.
“I did not want to be an assistant principal or anything,” Smith said. “But once I began taking the coursework for it, I fell in love with it and realized that it was what I wanted to do.”
This transformation underscores her ability to adapt and thrive in evolving roles within the educational system, with her educational journey marked by a commitment to learning and growth.
“I graduated from Texas High in 2001 and decided that I wanted to teach Curriculum Instruction,” Smith said. “I went to Texas A&M University, Texarkana to get my Masters degree in 2013.”
Unable to stop learning, Smith decided to continue her education and strive to better her education in order to teach others.
“I got my second Masters degree in Administration from Lamar University in 2020.” Smith said. “But I couldn’t stop there so I took the long journey to get my Doctorate from Baylor University In 2024.”
Getting the opportunity to express her interest in education, Smith knew she needed to go all in and reach her goal of achieving her doctorate degree.
“I saw all those people in those fancy gowns and hats,” Smith said. “It made me wonder what I needed to do to achieve that, and it pushed me to reach that goal.”
Smith’s extensive educational background and professional experience have shaped her approach to educational leadership. Smith remains dedicated to her role and encourages both students and colleagues to pursue their passions and remain authentic. Her advice to her peers is to stay true to themselves and continue learning, reflecting on her own journey of growth and discovery in the field of education.
“The biggest change for me, since being here, is just perspective,” Smith said. “Being an administrator or even a teacher is very different from what I am used to.”
