Before joining the Edvantia staff, Dr. Smith worked at the West Virginia Department of Education where he served as the assistant state superintendent for instructional services. He had primary responsibility for leading the improvement of academic instructional programs, special education, the state-county testing program, county and school accreditation, and educational programs in institutional settings. He led an initiative to improve academic achievement in the 22 lowest performing districts in West Virginiaan initiative that was among the first of the large-scale systemic school improvement efforts in the country.