Chief Chat: Abigail Smith

Abigail Smith is the Chief of the Transformation Management Office with the District of Columbia Public Schools. The Transformation Management Office drives strategic planning for the school district, develops and maintains district-wide performance management tools and manages cross-cutting strategic initiatives.

Can you describe to us what you do as Chief of Transformation Management?

I do strategic planning, performance management, including school stat, and a range of other strategic initiatives.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Baltimore, MD. As an undergraduate, I attended Yale and then went onto the Harvard Graduate School of Education. I've lived in DC for 13 of the past 16 years. I was in Cambridge and New York while I wasn’t here, but I have been living in the District for the past 10 years.

When did you know you wanted to pursue education?

I'm not exactly sure when that moment was, but I initially got into education through Teach For America (TFA). TFA wasn’t around I was in college, but after it started, it was one of the options I was looking at. Once I became a part of the TFA corps, I realized that this is what I wanted to do.

Where did you do TFA?

I did TFA in North Carolina, and I taught 1st grade for two years.

What are you most proud of since working here at DCPS?

Broadly speaking, it is the fact that we have demonstrated tangible and clear progress for kids in our city. Also, I am proud that that we have shown a willingness for adults to make tough decisions even though it can make some people uncomfortable.

What do you find to be most challenging about your position?

Trying to work within government bureaucracy

Is there any advice that you would like to give to our associates?

The most important thing is to make sure that you get out to schools this summer. Don’t spend the entire summer in the central office. That’s one thing that I would like to do more as well!

Why do you think that it is so important to visit schools?

Seeing things happen or not happen in the school influences how you think about design. Also, it mostly effects how you think about implementation. Implementation is key! The best idea on paper just might not play out when you bring it into a school, so you have to see it for yourself.