Andy Smith

Creating learning environments that help students find a sense of meaning and purpose has long been Andy’s focus. A scholar/practitioner in the field, Andy’s Master’s thesis in Critical and Creative Thinking from the University of Massachusetts focused on how schools can intentionally build these kinds of environments. Since 2007, Andy has held a variety of senior-level positions at EXPLO — from heading student life programming to overseeing EXPLO’s student advisory program to curriculum development and instructional coaching. He even moves to campus every summer along with his family.

Prior to EXPLO, Andy taught English in several New York public schools, a secondary school in Ghana, and served as literacy headteacher at Kitendo Children’s Charity in Naivasha, Kenya. He earned his B.A. in English and Adolescent Education at the State University of New York, Geneseo. A college varsity swimming career led him to coach high school teams, and he now serves his university alma mater as an Alumni Career Advisor in Education. Andy is the co-founder and co-facilitator of the EXPLO Anti-Racism Reading Group.