Smith inducted into PSBA Allwein Society at board meeting
PHOTO PROVIDED Donna Smith, center, is pictured with members of the Bellefonte Area School District Board of Directors and members of the school’s administration after being inducted into the PSBA Allwein Society.
PHOTO PROVIDED BASD School Board Director Donna Smith, right, shakes hands with PSBA CEO Nathan Mains after being inducted into the Allwein Society.
PHOTO PROVIDED Donna Smith, center, is pictured with members of the Bellefonte Area School District Board of Directors and members of the school’s administration after being inducted into the PSBA Allwein Society.
PHOTO PROVIDED BASD School Board Director Donna Smith, right, shakes hands with PSBA CEO Nathan Mains after being inducted into the Allwein Society.
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BELLEFONTE -- On Tuesday, Feb. 27, Donna Smith was inducted as the 17th member of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association's (PSBA) Allwein Society.
The Allwein Society is a recognition program honoring individuals who are outstanding leaders and advocates on behalf of public schools and students.
This honor was created in 2011 in memory of Timothy M. Allwein, a former PSBA staff member who exemplified the integrity, dedication and commitment to advance political action for the benefit of public education.
"Donna has made a lifelong commitment to public education. She began her service in the classroom and continues to make a lasting impact as a dedicated member of the Bellefonte Area School Board. I am honored to recognize Donna as the 17th member of the PSBA Allwein Society," PSBA CEO Nathan Mains said during the presentation.
Smith was nominated by Jackie Huff, a school director at the State College Area School District and a 2023 Allwein Society inductee, and Amber Concepcion, a former board president at SCASD and a current Centre County commissioner.
These colleagues cited her persistence in advocating for cyber charter reform and fair funding as reasons for her nomination for this prestigious recognition, according to a release from PSBA.
"If she finds policies that are objectionable, they need to be changed now. When a process isn't yielding the intended results, there will be options before close-of-business. If she finds a law that needs tweaking to help students, she is on the phone in the next breath speaking to her representatives about it," Huff wrote in her nomination letter.
The nomination letter from Concepcion said, in addition to her tenacious advocacy, Smith "understands that effective advocacy requires building relationships among stakeholders and with policymakers. She has put in the time and care to build these relationships."
Before starting her role as a school board director in 2019, Smith was a lifelong educator in the Bellefonte community. Since joining the board in her retirement, she has served as the liaison to PSBA, was a member of the 2023 PSBA Platform Committee and has participated in numerous PSBA Advocacy Days.
In addition to these roles, Smith has hosted legislators at her district during a Show Them What It Takes visit, provided content for the PSBA Bulletin and authored op-eds on a variety of issues impacting public education.
"I believe that education truly is the greatest of all equalizers, and every student deserves a fair and equal education," Smith stated after receiving the recognition. "I think that education truly, truly changes the world. I think that when you advocate correctly with the right motive and the right thing in your heart that people listen," she continued.