Agenda Item
a. PERSONNEL RECOMMENDATION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION
Summary: Presented by: Mrs. Tasha Davis Mills, Chief of Human Resources, Division of Human Resources
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the hiring recommendation of Mrs. Ayana S. Smith to the position of Executive Director of Professional Development.
Contact: Mrs. Tasha Davis Mills, Chief of Human Resources, Division of Human Resources
Effective: Effective upon Board approval
Ayana S. Smith
EDUCATOR, LEADER, COMMUNITY ADVOCATE
Dynamic and highly-accomplished educator, school counselor, and administrator with over 26 years of
comprehensive academic experience on the middle school level. Innovative, strategic thinker who excels at
spearheading effective educational programming with wide-ranging benefits for all participants. Dedicated and
loyal team player with excellent interpersonal skills. Champion of quality teaching and learning for all students
and able to manage multiple tasks. Collaborative leader who promotes productive partnerships.
Core Competencies
Instructional and Organizational Leadership Professional Development
Strategic Planning Stakeholder Engagement and Relations
School Improvement Culture and Climate Enhancer
Professional Experience
INTERIM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2024 - PRESENT
DISTRICT LEVEL | DeKalb County School District
Collaborate with district and school leaders within the district and external stakeholders to identify effective and appropriate work-
specific professional learning opportunities.
Coordinates and aligns the initiatives of the Professional Learning department with the overall needs and strategic goals of the
district.
Communicate effectively the goals of the Department of Professional Learning that are aligned with the district’s strategic goals
Manages and directs all aspects of the daily operations of the department and supervises personnel assigned to the department.
Directs goal-centric budget planning, allocation of funds for professional learning and management of internal and external
customers, and facilitation of district, state, and federal policies, procedures, and guidelines
Collaborate, participate, and facilitate planning meetings with department, district, school-based personnel, and external
stakeholders in support of professional learning initiatives/programs.
Manages the facilitation and implementation of training for teachers and administrators in support of great teachers and leaders
who are aligned with the district’s strategic improvement priorities, strategic planning, and progress monitoring.
Develop and modify existing programs for improvement that are designed to address training needs for current, and new schools
and departments’ administrators.
Develops, plans, manages, supports, organizes, and implements processes related to strategic planning and district improvement.
PRINCIPAL 2021 - 2024
Chapel Hill Middle School | DeKalb County School District
Oversee the implementation of the instructional program to ensure all students have access to quality teaching and learning.
Improved test scores in all areas (content mastery) and increased the state closing the gap, readiness, and progress for achievement
by 80% during my tenure.
Develop, review, revise, and continuously update the School Improvement Plan each year, in collaboration with School-Based
Leadership Team.
Established an emerging school-wide discipline program and Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) to decrease discipline
infractions by 22%.
Increased student attendance by 5% by implementing mentorship initiatives, promoting student engagement and success, and
addressing attendance issues.
Crowned as 1 of 5 district-wide Teacher Residency Academies responsible for developing future teachers.
Organize professional learning communities, consistent collaborative planning sessions, and summer professional learning to increase
opportunities for teachers to plan data-driven instruction, share best practices, and support professional growth.
Analyze and interpret available data to address the needs of all stakeholders.
Communicate effectively with stakeholders and system administrators to share information, develop plans, resolve conflicts, and
maintain a positive culture and climate.
Establish techniques to promote and sustain parent and community partnerships to improve school culture and climate.
Create a yearly staffing plan to promote effective and efficient staffing processing for obtaining and growing high-quality school staff
resulting in a 90% teacher retention rate and support staff 85-90% or higher.
Instrumental in increasing community/business partnerships by 20% through strategic planning and relationship-building efforts.
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Ayana S. Smith Professional Experience
2018 - 2021
Chapel Hill Middle School | DeKalb County School District
Worked collaboratively with teachers in analyzing student data for improvement. Analyzed assessment data to determine the
instructional needs of the school for all students.
Planned, organized and assisted in the implementation of professional learning for all teachers to help improve teaching and learning for
all students.
Facilitated meetings with teachers to discuss student’s academic and behavioral concerns, as well as help create plans to increase
academic success and decrease inappropriate student behavior
Served as the School Title I Coordinator and facilitated the Title I budget, school improvement plan, and parent and family engagement
plan.
Developed and implemented systems and procedures to control and increase student attendance
LEAD SCHOOL COUNSELOR 2007-2018
SCHOOL COUNSELOR 2001-2007
Mary McLeod Bethune Middle School | DeKalb County School District
Developed the counseling comprehensive guidance program to address the academic, social, emotional, and career needs of the
students at Bethune Middle School.
Developed and facilitated the school-wide mentoring program and evaluated effectiveness annually.
Assisted with the development, implementation, and review of the school’s Consolidated School Improvement Plan (CSIP).
Collaborated with administrators and staff in developing counseling professional development programs related to Student Support
Team, Mentoring, Mandated Reporting, Bullying, Parent Involvement activities, and developed attendance rules and requirements.
Facilitated and organized the school-wide crisis team and ensure protocol was followed with a crisis.
MATHEMATICS TEACHER 1998-2001
Bazoline E. Usher Middle School | Atlanta Public School District
Implemented the state curriculum for the instruction of Mathematics.
Responsible for the management of classroom discipline.
Maintained accurate records of students’ grades and attendance.
Organized the grade level Student Support Team process.
Implemented ideas to the leadership team to improve achievement.
Education
Lincoln Memorial University University of West Georgia
Maryville, Tennessee Carrollton, Georgia
Ed.S., Educational Administration & M.Ed., Guidance and Counseling (5/2001)
Supervision (5/2002) B.S., Middle Grades (8/1998)
Certifications
Administration and Supervision Certification K-12 (2002)
School Counseling Certification K-12 (2001)
Middle Grades Education Certification 5-8 (1998)
District Committees-
Affiliations and Awards
Middle School Principal of the Year (DCSD) RETAIN - Restore Teacher Aspiration and Innovation MS COHORT
DeKalb Master School Counselor (DCSD) (Hosted by GLISI-Georgia Leadership Institute for School
Improvement)
Educational Support Professional of the Year (DCSD)
Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE)
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) Member:
Superintendent Principal Advisory Council Administrator of the Year (EESD Scholarship Foundation, Inc.)
Calendar Committee SECME Teacher of the Year (Atlanta Public Schools)
Assessment Committee
Principal of the Year (DSCD)