Kathryn Downey-Smith

CSL Administrative Assistant

Kathryn Downey-Smith is the Administrative Assistant to the Improvement Specialists at The Center for Strategic Leadership and Organizational Coherence. For the last 10 years, Downey-Smith has been providing leadership training and innovative programs to make school administrative offices run effectively and efficiently on a day-to-day basis. Downey-Smith has coached students and teachers and has provided high-impact strategies for classroom organizational skills and advanced the implementation of best practices for continuous improvement in academic achievement, classroom management, and team-building exercises with students based on levels of functioning.

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Prior to Downey-Smith joining The Center for Strategic Leadership and Organizational Coherence, Downey-Smith served as Office Manager, Athletic Director, Cheer Coach, Track Coach, and Volleyball Coach for various teams within Shelby County Schools. Downey-Smith’s work was critical in developing continuous improvement strategies which led to personal and social-emotional growth and development in all of the students who participated on those teams. Her leadership helped improve students’ grades, promote self-discipline, and lift school morale. Downey-Smith has served in a variety of key roles which allowed her to help empower organizational leaders to lead from a position of strength and expand their impact in leading.

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Downey-Smith is a graduate of the University of Memphis and holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management (BBA) and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Hospitality and Hotel Resort Management. Downey-Smith was inducted into the Kemon’s Wilson Honor Society and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Downey-Smith has been the recipient of numerous academic awards and honors from the following organizations: The Peabody Hotel, Shelby County Schools, and The Business Magazine. She was also the first Kemon’s Wilson School student to receive the highest salary upon graduation.