Elizabeth Smith, planning director for the Yale National Initiative and Teachers Institute for Tulsa, has accepted an appointment as assistant professor of education and chair of The University of Tulsa’s Department of Education in the Kendall College of Arts and Sciences.
Smith received her doctorate in public policy from the University of Arkansas with a focus on P-20 education policy. Her research interests are education partnerships, assessment and evaluation. She brings a wealth of experience with accreditation processes to her new positions, and with the work that she has done in her short time as interim assessment coordinator for TU’s Department of Education, she has demonstrated the value of her participation and leadership in the critical effort of regaining accreditation for the education program.
As planning director for the Yale National Initiative and Teachers Institute, Smith developed relationships with Tulsa Public Schools teachers and administrators and worked with TU faculty, city leaders and philanthropic organizations as well as colleagues at Yale University to launch the institute. She spearheaded the planning application to Yale as well a follow-up site that earned accolades by YNI as the best planning application in the 13-year history of the national initiative. She has organized the first four teacher workshops that will meet this academic year led by fellows Denise Dutton, Ty Johannes, Sean Latham and Robert Sheaff. The initial 50 TPS teachers to participate in the four seminars are in the process of being selected.
TU will begin a search immediately for Smith’s replacement for the Yale National Initiative and Teachers Institute.