Meet the Principal
Ms. AJ Smith
Ms. AJ Smith is from Johnson City, TN, and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, where she earned her undergraduate degree in Child and Family Studies. She began teaching at Elkins Pointe Middle School in 2008. Ms. Smith began in 6th grade, but by 2015, she taught all grade levels in various content areas as a special education teacher. While teaching at Elkins Pointe, Ms. Smith completed her graduate degree in Behavior and Learning Disabilities at Georgia State University. She then became the Administrative Assistant at Sweet Apple Elementary School and completed her specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Valdosta State University. In 2017, Ms. Smith was named assistant principal of Hembree Springs Elementary School. She served the school in that capacity for 3 years, and at the height of the COVID pandemic, she was named principal of Hembree Springs Elementary School in 2020. She has served the Hembree Springs community since that time.
Ms. Smith has led Hembree Springs Elementary School with strength and grace through COVID-19. The students achieved high levels of success through this time by being recognized as a Title 1 Distinguished School twice by the state of Georgia. The PTA worked hard to ensure that the school earned a two-time recognition, 2020-2022 and 2022-2024, from the National PTA School of Excellence. Ms. Smith was subsequently recognized by the Georgia PTA as Elementary Principal of Excellence in 2021. She was the only elementary school principal in the state of Georgia to earn this award, which was achieved through countless hours of supporting her community beyond the classroom.
Ms. Smith has been a part of the Roswell community since 2008. She currently resides in the Elkins Pointe Middle School district, and four of her children attend Hembree Springs Elementary School. She is a mother of 5 children: Jazlyn (13), Nehemiah (10), Nyla (9), Josiah (6), and Jayla (4). Living and working in the same community as the school she serves is important to her. She is a dynamic relational leader who works hard to impact those around her in a positive way. Her ultimate focus is student achievement, but Ms. Smith believes that academic success hinges on meeting the needs of the whole child as well as supporting and developing the staff who serve them. She adheres to the belief that all students can learn and be successful. Ms. Smith will continue to work hard to support all stakeholders’ needs. Her previous school, Hembree Springs, is similar to Elkins Pointe, and she is ready to lead with the same passion and drive that she has shown in her previous roles.