Dr. Bethany Groves Smith
Dr. Bethany Groves Smith is a seasoned educational leader whose lifelong love of learning and natural curiosity have shaped a more than 30-year career in education. From an early age, school served as a safe and affirming space where she experienced success and developed a deep appreciation for teaching and learning. She has always had a strong connection with children and, early in her journey, pursued music as a major with plans to become a professional musician. However, she ultimately chose to shift her path toward education, recognizing both the practical realities of the field at the time and her growing passion for teaching, family, and working with students. This decision led to a deeply meaningful and rewarding career dedicated to student growth and opportunity.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Smith has remained steadfast in her commitment to improving literacy outcomes for all students, with a particular focus on children living in poverty. She has spent approximately 15 years working intensively in high-poverty school environments, leading efforts to close achievement gaps and strengthen foundational reading skills. She holds a master’s degree in reading and literacy as well as a doctorate in educational leadership with an emphasis on literacy. Her expertise spans instructional leadership, systems thinking, data-informed decision-making, and school improvement, all grounded in the belief that every child deserves access to high-quality education regardless of circumstance.
Currently, Dr. Smith serves as Principal of Webster Elementary School in St. Augustine, Florida, where 100% of students are living in poverty, and she leads with a strong focus on equity, literacy, and whole-child development. In addition to her school leadership role, she serves as a Principal Coach with the National Center for Community Schools, supporting other leaders in critical decision-making, instructional leadership, and sustainable school improvement practices. As she looks toward the next phase of her career, she is exploring opportunities to expand her coaching platform, engage in regional speaking, and potentially write a book sharing her insights on creative problem-solving, leadership, and student motivation in education.
• Liberty University - EdD
• Northern Kentucky University - M.Ed. in Reading
• Ohio University - BEEd
• FASA
• Florida Association of School Administrators
• Anastasia Church
• Women's Refuge of St. Augustine
• Elks Club
• Gift of Dance (nonprofit)
• Community Partnership School at Webster Elementary
• National Center for Community Schools
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith, a strong and supportive upbringing, and a consistent commitment to hard work. My faith has provided me with grounding, perspective, and resilience through both challenges and opportunities, helping me stay focused on purpose-driven goals. I was also raised with a strong sense of responsibility, integrity, and care for others, which continues to shape how I lead, serve, and engage with students, families, and colleagues. In addition, I believe hard work has been essential to my growth and success; I consistently strive to show up with intention, remain persistent, and continue learning and improving in all areas of my professional practice.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think they are choosing a path that gives them a broad opportunity to really be the foundation of success for lots of lives to come. Their potential to really be the difference maker in the life of someone else is very real on a daily basis, which, to me, is huge. You're investing, and you're serving in someone else. It also means that you are giving up some things - you're not going to get the salary you deserve, and sometimes you're not even going to get the public respect you deserve. But you're going to be able to make contributions that last far beyond your lifetime and can potentially change the trajectory of entire families and communities for the better, which I think is worth the effort of anyone.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think some of the challenges facing education in general is really, I believe, in preserving the essence of public education, while still offering the choices that might be needed for unique students that fall outside of that traditional framework. I think we face many funding challenges and maybe a bit of a misunderstanding from the public about the reality of schools today. People think schools are like what they were like when they went to school 30 years ago, but there's been a lot of shifts. For example, here at my elementary school, which is 100% students in poverty, we have two mental health counselors here that help engage with students on a regular basis. Their caseloads are completely full all the time. And I don't think the general public thinks about those kinds of needs that students might not have access to if public education didn't have those resources here. So, really expanding that understanding of how schools still have that ability to be the hub and the center of resources for children in lots of areas of need, not just academics, but also the financial resources it takes to provide those, so that we can make sure students grow up well, rather than not getting what they need, and then not being able to be successful citizens later.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I definitely think that I work to really make sure every child has a fighting chance to be successful. I've been in very affluent schools, but I definitely gravitate to the work of advocating for those who might not have an advocate outside of school. So definitely fighting for the rights of every child to learn and flourish are super important to me. Other core values are really just, again, family and faith, and probably genuine compassion and kindness.