Principal’s Message

Dear Ardmore Avenue Elementary School Community,

It is an honor to introduce myself as the new principal of Ardmore Avenue Elementary School and to join this extraordinary school community. I hope that this letter finds you enjoying the last days of summer by rejuvenating and relaxing at home or on vacation. Also, I hope you and your children are looking forward to beginning a wonderful school year together in September. I can assure you that I share in Ardmore’s community’s commitment to caring for your children each and every day while providing them a global education that fosters social responsibility.

I’ve had the unique opportunity to be an example of a Career Changer from Accounting to Education. Through my experience in business, I arrive to Ardmore looking through education from a business lens & always considering how to bring the business environment to the field of education in a manner that prepares young people for life after the K-12 educational setting.  Additionally, I arrive to Ardmore as a seasoned educator, who has had the opportunity to educate students in a variety of settings from private, public to charter in grades: 5th through high school. Additionally, I’ve served as a building principal in a Kindergarten through eighth grade setting and at an accelerated high school.  I look forward to using these collective experiences as your new principal.

My personal background includes being the daughter of a Jamaican mother and Cuban father, who grew up in Philadelphia and spent a portion of her summers in Jamaica and Grand Cayman learning to appreciate her West Indian and Cuban heritage. My parents’ greatest desire was for their child(ren) to receive a world-class American education & to attend college in the United States. I am the fulfilment of their desire. My educational experience has taken me to Hampton University for a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting; Temple University for a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education; Saint Joseph University for a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and the Superintendent’s Certification from Arcadia University. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to over 20 states and 15 countries as far away as Jordan and Israel with my loving & supportive fiancé, family, college friends & church family. I’m an avid reader of the Bible, Spy/Espionage fiction, mystery books and movies of the same genre.

I’ve gained privileged insights into the core beliefs and values that underlie the William Penn School District. I am committed to always exploring new ways to meet students’ needs and to communicate with parents and community members more effectively. We will be meeting with parents, students, and as a staff throughout the year to identify specific goals in the areas of student achievement, school climate, and parent communication.

In closing, please know that my door is always open to you. I heartily welcome your conversation and positive input throughout this year. Let us always focus on training and molding our students to be globally and socially conscious, productive citizens. Enjoy the remaining days of summer!

Sincerely,
Ms.  A. M. Smith, M.ED., M.S.
Principal
Ardmore Avenue Elementary School