Melinda Daugherty has been selected as the new principal of Smith Elementary School. She has 20 years of experience in education with her most recent position being the assistant principal for Smith Elementary for three years. Her educational experience includes serving as a first-, fourth-, and fifth-grade teacher specializing in working with English language learners. Daugherty’s leadership experience also includes her work as a literacy coach, instructional coordinator, and teacher specialist. She holds a bachelor’s in Education with minors in English and Music from Sam Houston State University, and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Lamar University.