Dr. Laurie Smith graduated from Kutztown University in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with certification in mathematics and physics.  Within a few years, she enrolled in a program at Wilkes University, graduating in 2003 with a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and having earned a K-12 principal certification.   Dr. Smith began her doctoral work at Lehigh University, transferring and finishing her dissertation at Immaculata University when she transitioned to working in the Perkiomen Valley School District.  Dr. Smith began her career serving public education in the Parkland School District teaching physics and mathematics.  In 2003, she transitioned to an administrator role serving as a middle school assistant principal in the Northwestern Lehigh School District.  In 2008, she assumed the position of middle school principal.  In 2014, she joined the Upper Perkiomen School District as a middle school principal.  In the role of administrator, Dr. Smith led curriculum review cycles for math and language arts, assisted in the creation of MTSS teams, coordinated one-to-one technology efforts, and examined achievement data to drive educational learning decisions. 

Dr. Smith earned her Superintendent’s Letter of Eligibility from Lehigh University in Summer 2017 and joined the Perkiomen Valley School District as Assistant to the Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.  In 2021 she was commissioned as the Assistant Superintendent under Dr. Barbara Russell.

Dr. Smith’s passion lies in cultivating strong educational leaders. She strives to create an environment of trust in which vulnerability is a norm, allowing leaders to be reflective and grow. Dr. Smith believes that investing in the development of our school leaders will directly impact the educational environments and achievements of students.  In pursuant of her passion for cultivating strong leaders, Dr. Smith’s dissertation focus explored the benefit of mentorship to increase principal leadership.

In her personal life, Dr. Smith is married to her husband Arnold.  She has two children, Dakota and Natalie. She enjoys crafting and creating, exploring the outdoors while driving her Cam Am motorcycle, traveling, and spending time with family.