Dear Firebird Nation
Welcome to the 2025 – 2026 school year. I am thrilled to welcome our learners and staff back to school. I hope you were able to relax and make special memories with your friends and family. Now, it is time to look forward to a wonderful new school year.
My purpose as a leader is to create schools that open doors of opportunity for all students. I am driven by the belief that education is a transformative force, one that not only prepares young people for graduation but also equips them with the skills, resilience, and confidence to thrive in college, career, and life.
My work is guided by values of equity, innovation, collaboration, accountability, and student-centered leadership. These principles ensure that every decision I make is grounded in both fairness and excellence, and that every learner is provided with access to a rigorous and supportive education.
What distinguishes me as a leader is my ability to bridge instructional leadership with program innovation. I bring a unique perspective shaped by deep experience in special education, which allows me to ensure equity and access are central to every initiative. At the same time, I have transformed schools through expanded AP and dual enrollment opportunities, STEAM programming, restorative practices, and curriculum alignment that raises the bar for all students.
The impact of my leadership is clear: I build schools with stronger instructional outcomes, a sense of identity, and a culture of inclusion. Under my leadership, schools have increased enrollment, improved standardized test participation and performance, broadened advanced academic offerings, and formed meaningful partnerships with universities and community organizations. The difference I make is in creating systems that not only improve academic performance but also expand opportunities that change students’ lives.
My leadership voice is collaborative, student-focused, and grounded in integrity. I believe in leading with both high expectations and compassion, modeling lifelong learning, and inspiring others to see that transformative change is possible when we share a vision. This is the heart of my work as an educational leader: building schools where every learner can succeed and every educator can grow.
Sincerely,
John R. Smith Jr., Ed.D.
Chief Learner (Principal)