Smith named new executive director of teaching and learning — secondary

Round Rock ISD has named Ryan Smith the new Executive Director of Teaching of Learning — Secondary.

Smith has served as the District’s Director of Professional Development since 2013 and has previously held the position of assistant principal at Walsh and Deerpark middle schools. Prior to administrative roles, he also served as a special education teacher at Deerpark. He has 15 years of experience in education.

He brings a diverse set of experiences, including working closely with Title I campuses through the Round Rock Incentives for Superior Education (RRISE) Program, where he supported the implementation of teachers and provided professional development to support teacher retention at those schools.

“It’s such an exciting time to be leading the Secondary Teaching and Learning team,” Smith said. “As we move into the next phases of our Strategic Plan, we are excited to lead the way modeling innovative curriculum and instructional coaching practices throughout the District.”

Smith is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin Principalship Program provided by the Department of Educational Administration. He also earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English from California State University in San Bernardino.

As the executive director of teaching and learning — secondary, Smith will lead curriculum-related initiatives and assessment development, as well as the training and supervision of secondary instructional coaches to support teaching and learning at the campus level.

“Mr. Smith’s experience in districtwide professional development is an asset to our department,” Chief of Teaching and Learning Mandy Estes said. “With his passion for customized teacher training, I am confident our instructional coaches and curriculum team will have a strong leader who will support innovative learning throughout our campuses.”

Smith is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course in Human Relations and Communication and is a certified cognitive coach. He has presented on behalf of Round Rock ISD at several education conferences, including SXSWedu and the Texas Association of School Administrators Midwinter Conference.

“Ryan Smith is a tireless advocate for forward-thinking professional development, which will be essential as we ensure our students are college and career ready for years to come,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Flores said. “I have been continuously impressed with his dedication to build leadership capacity in Round Rock ISD, and I look forward to Mr. Smith continuing his work to further the success of our secondary campuses.”