Joyanna Smith

Joyanna Smith is the oldest of eight children, and has thus engaged in a leadership capacity from a very young age. Joyanna is passionate about advancing educational equity, systemic change, and family engagement. Her work as the Ombudsman for Public Education has enabled her to directly assist some of the District1s most vulnerable families, particularly in special education, and she applies this experience in her vision for change within the city. She has been invited to speak at national conferences regarding her expertise on supporting families, and provides policy recommendations to local and federal agencies. Joyanna has a JD from George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in English from Brown University.