Howard S. Smith, Ed.D

Education Consultant

Tel: 716.842.2800
Fax: 716.845.6709
Email: hsmith@websterszanyi.com

“Working with many Boards of Education, superintendents and administrators has allowed me the opportunity to share what I believe to be critical considerations when addressing difficult, and oftentimes, controversial matters. Always confirming that prospective decisions are both good for students and can be defended publicly usually leads to those that stand up to critical review and the test of time.”

Dr. Smith’s consulting services focus on working with boards of education and superintendents to assist in developing and improving upon quality governance. Sample services he provides include leading board of education retreats and self-assessment initiatives; mentoring superintendents; completing district organization and facilities studies; conducting personnel investigations and mediations; delivering professional development seminars; analyzing labor agreements and leading collective bargaining efforts; completing human resources department audits; and working with districts to address controversial issues.

Howard spent 39 years in New York public schools, the last seven of those serving as the Superintendent of Schools for the Williamsville Central School District. Before Williamsville, he served for seven and a half years as Superintendent of Schools in East Aurora. Since August of 2011, Howard has provided consulting services to numerous schools districts predominantly in the Buffalo and Rochester areas. Through School Leadership, LLC, an executive search firm, he also assists Boards of Education in the important task of conducting superintendent and other administrative searches. School Leadership, LLC has conducted over 100 executive searches in the New York and New England area.

Howard brings a wealth of experience on a statewide basis. He began teaching in the Albany area in the Bethlehem and Voorheesville Central School Districts. His transition from teaching to administration began in the Shenendehowa Central School District, a large suburban district in southern Saratoga County, where he was dean of students, social studies department chair and high school assistant principal. From there, he served as a high school principal and assistant superintendent for the Poughkeepsie City School District and as assistant superintendent for personnel in the Gates Chili Central School District in suburban Rochester, before assuming the superintendencies in East Aurora and Williamsville.

Dr. Smith received Bachelors and Masters Degrees from The State University of New York at Albany and Masters and Doctorate Degrees from the University of Rochester, all in education related fields.