Dr. James B. Smith

Board Member, Dr. James B. Smith retired in 2003 after 35 years as a high power executive for a Fortune 500 company. Although Dr. Smith had a BS in Business Administration, an MBA in Business Administration with emphasis in Management/ Leadership, and PhD in Business Administration with emphasis in Leadership and Corporate Strategic planning, upon retiring he went back to graduate school (Antioch University) and obtained his K-8 Teaching credentials. He was a member of the SHB 2722 legislative Advisory Committee charged with developing teaching strategies and best practices for narrowing the achievement gap for African American students.

In addition to his work at the K-12 level, James has been an adjunct professor for City University of Seattle teaching the six core courses of the Masters of Education Degree Program and graduate level courses in Classroom Management and Societal Issues-Children at-risk for School and Guidance Counselors. Dr. Smith has served on the Equity Committee for the State Board of Education and on the Bias and Fairness Review teams in several content areas for the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instructions.

He is currently Chair of the Seattle Breakfast Group Education Committee; member of the Leaders of Communities of Color for Education Excellent; Board member of CEER; member of the EEC Board of Directors; a Commissioner on the Commission on African American Affairs; member of the EOGOAC; member of the Expanded Learning Council; member of the OSPI Data Governance Committee; member of the Student Discipline Task Force and several PESB workgroups and other education coalitions