Elliot Smalley

ELLIOT SMALLEY

The Broad Residency Class of 2009-2011
Current Organization: Charleston County School District, S.C.
M.S., Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati
B.S., Sociology, University of Massachusetts

“I grew up witnessing education inequities all across the South, and now I wake up every day with a sense of urgency around closing the achievement gap. I think we’re at an opportune time in public education. We are beginning to learn what really works, but the task of moving entrenched bureaucracies to adopt proven strategies, innovate, and gauge success based on student results—versus adult accomplishments or levels of activity—is Herculean. I believe that if we’re going to fix public education on a grand scale, we have to start with an unshakeable belief in the limitless potential of every child. We must also recognize that it is our responsibility to ensure that all students reach their potential. On top of this sort of ‘cultural baseline,’ we need the “know how”—the proven strategies, approaches and techniques that turn beliefs into results in the classroom. This is why I’m so excited to be part of the Broad Urban Residency, which gives new urban educators the tools they need to effect change in their districts and beyond. I look forward to joining a group of like-minded, committed professionals that I can learn from as we work to translate Broad’s offerings into the meaningful and positive change that students deserve.”

Elliot Smalley currently serves as the executive director of planning, marketing, and communications for the Charleston County School District in South Carolina. In this role, Smalley manages the District’s external and internal communications systems, assists in the planning and development of strategic initiatives and special projects, and leads county-wide efforts to empower and inform students, parents, and staff. He cultivates strategic partnerships in support of district initiatives, and oversees the district’s county-wide Community Education program. Prior to assuming his current role, Smalley was a senior program specialist at the U.S. Department of Education, where he developed national strategies to communicate with and empower parent, business and faith-based groups through print, television, and web-based media. He produced the Department’s monthly television show, “Education News Parents Can Use,” and assisted in the creation and distribution of user-friendly, research-based publications for parents, students, and community leaders. Also in this capacity, Smalley managed major partnerships and special events with businesses and non-profit agencies, including seasonal and post-Katrina reading initiatives and book distributions across the Gulf Coast. Smalley holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. Smalley is a participant in The Broad Residency in Urban Education (Class of 2009-2011), serving his two-year Residency in Organization at the Charleston County School District in South Carolina.

Read More:
> A Day in the Life Journal #1
> A Day in the Life Journal #2