Charisse Smith

Dr. Charisse Smith is a distinguished Principal Educational Consultant, keynote speaker, and owner of Sankofa Educational Consulting LLC. She also serves as the Curriculum Supervisor of Social Studies (K-6) and the Coordinator of the Bridge to Brilliance Gifted and Talented Program for Trenton Public Schools in New Jersey. As the founder of Sankofa Educational Consulting, Dr. Smith designs parental engagement programs, leads diversity initiatives, and delivers keynote speeches on academic excellence among Black youth, financial literacy, and community health. She holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Grand Canyon University and a PhD in Education from Capella University, focusing on transforming African American student attitudes towards STEM. She also earned Principal and Supervisor certifications from Rider University. Dr. Smith’s career spans roles including Teaching Assistant, mental health professional, elementary and middle school teacher, educational interventionist, and instructional coach. She is dedicated to community service, serving as a Board Trustee for the New Jersey Advocates for Aging Well (NJAAW) and as the first Black Executive Board Trustee for Notre Dame High School. Among her achievements, she launched the Inquiry Design Model for K-6 Social Studies in Trenton and founded REAL Men Read of Hamilton, promoting literacy among young students. Dr. Smith resides in Trenton with her husband, Steven, and their two adult children, Raven and Satchel. In her spare time, she enjoys crocheting, visiting museums, playing tennis, and raising rabbits.

Implementing IDM in a New Jersey Public School: A Journey of Growth and Discovery

Starting with Inquiry: A Need for Change: As a new administrator in an urban public school in New Jersey, I began my journey into Social Studies curriculum reform with a fundamental question: How do we effectively implement the New Jersey Social Studies Disciplinary Practices in a way that is engaging,

Charisse Smith March 14, 2025

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