DIANA F. SMITH

DR. DIANA F. SMITH

Beginning as a high school educator in 1993, to now serving as Director of Student Services for York School District One, Dr. Diana F. Smith’s dedication to the field of education is unmatched.

After earning her B.A. in English Education from South Carolina State University, Dr. Smith went into the classroom prepared to make a difference in the lives of numerous high school students. Working as a teacher in both Augusta, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. Smith developed instructional techniques which catered to students’ individual learning styles. She emphasized critical thinking within her classroom, and encouraged her students to adopt a creative approach to learning and understanding the world around them.

Desiring to expand her impact beyond the classroom, Dr. Smith returned to school, earning both, her M.Ed. and Ed. S in Counselor Education, and while later serving as Director of Guidance at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she earned yet another degree (Ed. S) in Educational Leadership. During this time, she collaborated with institutions of higher education to create partnerships, facilitated workshops for college preparation, and coordinated Career and Technical Education course offerings. Dr. Smith continued to spread her light and passion for education throughout the state of South Carolina, serving as both a high school Assistant Principal and middle school Principal.

In 2009, Dr. Smith earned her Ed. D in Educational Leadership, with her dissertation entitled, A Study of School Counselor Effectiveness and its Relation to Prior Teaching Experience and School Achievement. In her current position as Director of Student Services, Dr. Smith serves as a liaison, working with numerous organizations such as Keystone Substance Abuse Services, Adult Education, Mental/Behavioral Health, and Guidance and Counseling Services. Additionally, she collaborates with school administrators and teachers, to provide professional and staff development on various topics contributing to the well-being of students. Dr. Smith also serves as the ESOL coordinator, ensuring proper delivery of services to English Language Learners and the district’s attendance officer, working with social workers to address chronic absenteeism and truancy. Finally, as a member of the district’s safety and security team, her current focus is reducing internal threats to students’ safety, such as bullying, mental health issues and suicide.