Smith is credited with providing executive oversight of the district’s daily operations,collaborating with the superintendent to stabilize and rebuild the school system following a national test cheating crisis and cultivating productive staff-board relations as the administration’s primary point of contact to the Atlanta Board of Education.
Smith has also leveraged local and national opportunities as the district’s spokesperson and leader of the enterprise wide communications, external affairs and innovation functions. In addition, Smith assumed temporary oversight of the day-to-day operations of the district’s technology department as the interim chief information officer.
Among other accomplishments reached during Smith’s tenure are managing the district’s most extensive redistricting in 10 years; re-engaging stakeholders and partners during a challenging transition; and creating an innovation office that yielded the board’s approval of three additional charter schools, continuing APS’ position as the school system with the largest number of start-up charter schools in Georgia. Prior to joining APS, Smith previously served as vice president of corporate responsibility for the Turner Broadcasting System. As APS transitions to Dr. Meria Carstarphen’s leadership, Smith will remain a consultant to her and the board through December 2014.
“As my right hand, Steve has helped to shepherd Atlanta Public Schools through a difficult transition,” said Superintendent Erroll Davis. “His combined experience in education and business has been invaluable. As he returns to the private sector, I am confident that he will continue to be an asset to APS, and a champion for education.”
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