Deonna Smith

Deonna Smith is an educational justice advocate, former teacher and school administrator, and the author of Rooted in Joy: Creating a Classroom Culture of Equity, Belonging, and Care, published by Wiley in 2023. Her work focuses on helping teachers and school leaders build equitable and joyful classroom and school communities, drawing on theory, academic frameworks, and practical strategies for addressing school culture challenges and day‑to‑day classroom management.

Smith collaborates with educators across the United States through her consulting work to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive teaching practices in K–12 settings. She has been recognized for this work, including being featured in Forbes for her diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and receiving a Social Justice Advocate of the Year award in 2021.