magan gonzales-smith
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Magan’s passion for public education and commitment to education justice is shaped by being the daughter of a first-generation college student and her work for over a decade with urban school districts.
Magan has dedicated her career to working with public school students, educators and school district leaders to dismantle barriers to success for students of color and other historically marginalized students. In 2018 Magan worked alongside other community leaders to create and launch the DPS Foundation. Previously, Magan served as Associate Director of Insights & Impact for Hill Learning Center where she built research partnerships and supported YE Smith Elementary and Eastway Elementary on delivering literacy strategies for struggling readers.
Her past work includes recruiting public school teachers in partnership with the Rhode Island Department of Education, designing teacher and principal professional growth systems in Detroit, creating policy strategy for the NC Large District Superintendent Consortium, and managing teacher grants for the Asheville City Schools Foundation.
Magan received her B.A. in Political Science from George Washington University and her Master's in Public Policy from Duke University. Magan grew up in North Carolina and moved to Durham in 2012. She, her husband and their two daughters make their home in the Rockwood neighborhood of Durham.