Uncrowned Community Builders

Sheila Smith born and raised in the City of Niagara Falls, is the middle child of four (4) siblings and the mother of one (1) son, Christian. Middle children are said to be great team players, natural negotiators, possess small egos, and make the best friends, attributes that most who know Sheila would agree.


Sheila is currently the Principal at Gaskill Preparatory, a middle school in Niagara Falls where she has nurtured more than 2000 students since July 2015. She is the former Principal of Hyde Park Elementary School in Niagara Falls, and Director of the Niagara Regional School-to-Work Consortium.


As Principal at Gaskill Preparatory School, Smith is responsible for the management and implementation of district and state policies, regulations, and procedures. At the building-level, she oversees scheduling, curriculum and instruction, professional development, personnel management, and emergency and facility operations. In addition, she is responsible for evaluations and oversees all school-wide academic, data, financial, and student services and systems along with serving as district-wide administrator for the district's middle school level English and Language Arts Curriculum, Social Studies curriculum, and Report Card committee.


In 2009, Sheila was appointed to the NCCC Board of Trustees by the Governor. She currently serves as Niagara County Community College's Chair of the college's Academic and Student Life Committee. Smith is a Presidential Partner with the NCCC Foundation and serves as the college representative to the New York Association of Community College Trustees (NYCCT) as well as the American Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) where she has served on the Charles Kennedy Equity Award Committee.


Smith's community involvement has also included serving on various committees and boards throughout the years, including the United Way of Niagara, Niagara Community Action Program, Inc. and the Niagara Falls Chapter of the Links, Inc. where she currently serves as the chairperson for strategic planning.


Smith has a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration and Elementary Education from Niagara University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Labor Relations from Cornell University.