Karen Smith

Karen Smith is the Chief Operating Officer for NCTAF. From 1995-2004, Smith served as the founding Executive Director of TECH CORPS®, a national non-profit assisting K-12 schools with their technology through high quality programs and IT volunteers. Skilled at building both national and grassroots partnerships that bring together schools, communities, government agencies, and corporations around a common goal, Smith grew TECH CORPS from a pilot program in Massachusetts into a recognized and respected non-profit serving K-12 schools across the country.

Prior to joining TECH CORPS in 1995, Smith served as Director of Educational Technology Initiatives for the Massachusetts Software Council, directing partnerships between the software industry and the schools in Massachusetts. She is the primary author of the Council's nationally acclaimed book, The Switched-On Classroom Technology Planning Guide, a 250-page book which helps schools to develop long-range technology plans. Passionate about youth and their education, Smith began her career as a 2nd grade teacher in Beaumont, Texas. Moving from the classroom to administration, Smith's work has focused on designing and implementing partnerships between business and K12 education. Smith received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Lamar State University in Beaumont, TX.