Laura Smith

Laura Smith has developed and implemented strategic initiatives for educational organizations for nearly 20 years. As chief operating officer, Laura leads day-to-day operations, finance and strategic planning and also oversees digital product development. Previously, she was vice president of professional services for an ed-tech nonprofit, and was an assistant commissioner at the New York State Education Department. She also served as an executive director for the New York City Department of Education and as deputy director of High School Renewal for the San Diego Unified School District. Laura was in the inaugural cohort of the Broad Foundation’s Residency in Urban Education. She started her career teaching environmental education for nonprofit organizations in the Florida Keys and San Juan Islands. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business and is currently a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women.

Education

• MBA Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management (2000 — 2002)
• BS Cornell University
• Canandaigua Academy

Companies

• Chief Operating Officer UnboundEd.org (2015)
• Vice President, Service Amplify Education, Inc. (2012 — 2015)
• Vice President of Sesame Learning Sesame Workshop (2010 — 2012)
• Associate Professor Columbia Business School (2010 — 2012)
• Assistant Commissioner New York State Education Department (2009 — 2010)
• Special Asst to the Chancellor/Executive Director NYC Department of Education (2006 — 2009)
• Director, School Operations New York City Charter School Center (2004 — 2005)
• Associate Resident The Broad Center for the Management of School Systems (2003 — 2005)
• Deputy Director, High School Renewal San Diego Unified School District (2002 — 2004)

Skills

The most important

• Data Analysis
• Team Building
• Social Media

Other

Organizational Development, Editing, Proposal Writing, Community Outreach, New Business Development, Business Strategy, Curriculum Development, Program Evaluation, Entrepreneurship, Strategic Partnerships, Instructional Design, Higher Education, Analysis, Leadership Development, Educational Technology, Non-profits, Project Management, Management, Strategy, Staff Development, Teaching, Strategic Planning, Grant Writing, Fundraising, Leadership, Public Speaking, Program Management, Classroom, Program Development, Nonprofits, Educational Leadership