On Tuesday, February 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 prestigious 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.
While presenting the recognition, PSBA CEO Nathan Mains said, “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.”
Smith was nominated by Jackie Huff, a school director at the State College Area School District (SCASD) 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.
In her nomination letter, Huff said, “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.”
The nomination letter from Concepcion continues that 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.
PSBA applauds Donna Smith for her service and commitment to public education and public school students.
