William Smith, Ed.D., is the superintendent of Point Pleasant Beach School District and serves on the Board of Directors for Monmouth Ocean Educational Services Commission and was the 2023 AASA New Jersey Superintendent of the Year. He has researched and presented extensively about organizational leadership, staff wellness, and building academic confidence. A veteran adjunct at Monmouth, Smith was a member of the first cohort of Monmouth’s Ed.D. program and published his dissertation, “How Ninth-Grade AP World History Impacts a School: Rigor and the Culture of Confidence,” in 2019. Smith received a B.A. in English literature from Bucknell University and an M.A. in English literature from Drew University. Smith founded and hosts the Strategic Leadership Forum in Annapolis, Maryland.

Education

Ed.D., Monmouth University

M.A., Drew University

B.A., Bucknell University

Presentations/Invited Talks

“Expanding Your AP Program.” Presentation at the national AP Annual Conference, July 2016 and July 2017

“Replacing Fortresses with Makervilles— Transformative Schools for the New Millennium.” Presentation for NJ Future Educators Association Conference, Spring 2016.

“Please Gather in the Common Area: Literacy in the Content Areas—A Walk in the PARCC.” Keynote address for Monmouth County Curriculum Consortium, Spring 2014 Conference.

“How Can a Vertical Teams AP Approach Address the Needs of a Modern High School?” Rutgers University, March 2014.

“Common Core Can Create Open Space for PARCC and RE-Creation.” Monmouth University Principals’ Academy, March 2014.

“Balancing Teacher Evaluations and SGOs Under the New AchieveNJ Legislation.” Monmouth University Principals’ Academy, December 2014.

“Raritan High School Launches an Online Course.” Asbury Park Press, November 2013.

“Strengthening Your Common Core Six-Pack.” Monmouth University Literacy Symposium, Fall 2013.

“Teacher Evaluations: NJ Principal Wants Educators to Keep Calm and Carry On.” Asbury Park Press Online, April 2013.