Donna Smith is a partner at Schools Next, bringing a wealth of professional experience in education leadership to her role. With a career spanning from teacher to interim superintendent, Donna has held key positions including teacher leader, assistant principal, principal, director, and assistant superintendent. She earned her doctorate from the University of Southern California, Rossier School of Education in Educational Leadership in 2013.

Donna is deeply committed to public education as a catalyst for social equality and believes strongly in upholding the dignity of all citizens through equitable educational opportunities. Outside of work, she prioritizes family time, enjoying moments with her adult daughters, husband, and beloved dog. Her diverse interests include camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, and indulging in reading and cooking. Recently, she has also found joy in the creative pursuit of candle making.