Katrina Smith, a longtime Baldwin resident and active school volunteer, has been appointed to the Baldwin Board of Education as the newest trustee.
Smith, who has lived in Baldwin since 2009, brings with her more than 20 years of professional experience in finance, along with over a decade of involvement in the school district’s PTA.
A graduate of Howard University with a degree in finance, Smith began her career at JPMorgan Chase before joining Goldman Sachs, where she spent 15 years in the firm’s international accounting department. Most recently, she headed the compensation department at Mizuho Investment Bank.
“Finance and accounting have been my whole career,” Smith said. “Now I’m adding another fun thing to my list.”
Her involvement with Baldwin schools began as a volunteer. After her oldest daughter started kindergarten at Lenox Elementary School in 2014, Smith joined the PTA and steadily took on greater roles, serving as treasurer, program chair and, later, president for two years.
“When I had children, I understood very early on the importance of parents being involved in the school,” she said. “At first, it was small volunteer roles, but over time it grew into something much bigger. That was my first exposure to how the public school system works and how important the parent voice is.”
Smith’s two daughters, Kennedy and Courtney, both attend Baldwin public schools. Kennedy is a junior at Baldwin High School, while Courtney just began sixth grade at Baldwin Middle School.
Smith said she was motivated to step into the trustee role to give back to the community on a broader level.
“With my girls now in middle and high school, I felt like this was a great opportunity to help the district in other ways,” she said. “It’s not just about Lenox Elementary anymore — it’s about Baldwin as a whole.”
Smith said her experience as a Baldwin parent gives her a perspective that complements other members of the school board.
“I’m a parent with two girls in this district,” she said. “Our community looks different than it did 30 years ago, and I think it’s important to have someone who’s close to today’s Baldwin families and can bring their perspectives to the table.”
She also hopes to expand community engagement and communication, particularly by reaching residents where they are — on social media and through grassroots connections.
“We have to think about how to get information out there better,” Smith said. “Maybe utilizing social media more to reach people, and also encouraging organic relationships between parents, the board and administrators.”
Although her appointment came midyear following the resignation of Mary Jo O’Hagan, Smith said she is focused on ensuring that all voices in the community are heard.
“I want to make sure our community feels comfortable being involved,” she said. “There are so many talented people in Baldwin — entrepreneurs, educators, professionals — and if we all share those talents with our schools, the possibilities are endless.”
As she settles into her new role, Smith said she’s eager to learn from her colleagues while staying rooted in her mission to serve Baldwin’s students.
“When you take a position like this, it’s not about me — it’s about our kids,” she said. “I believe in this district. I believe in our teachers and administrators. I’m just excited to give back to the community that has given so much to my family.”
