Matt L. Smith is a second-year doctoral student in education leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He gained a love of education, inquiry, and embracing curiosity at a young age, inspired by the teachings and back yard experiments of his grandfather, a high school Physics teacher. Called to the education profession, Matt became a high school social studies teacher in an urban school district in metropolitan Atlanta. Before arriving at HGSE, Matt led Morrow Middle School in Morrow, GA as Principal. Matt’s major accomplishments include founding the first Dual Language Spanish Immersion Magnet program in his district as well as serving as a committee chairperson for the school district’s pivotal accreditation process. Matt recognizes that a commitment to personalized, culturally responsive teaching practices, centered around the instructional core, can significantly improve educational outcomes for all children. Matt believes in this way school can be a place that nurtures, challenges, inspires, and is fun. Through a relentless focus on evidence, intentional collaboration, and shared accountability, Matt believes we can better prepare all students to be college and career ready and successful within the greater global economy.