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escalator. Some kids are born in situations where you
know it’s work and they go ‘Oh, there’s a staircase’ to
get to the next level. Some kids are born where
there’s nothing, there’s no connection, no route to
that other place. The college-going gene isn’t only in
those kids that are born where there’s an escalator.
It’s in our communities’, our state’s and our country’s
best interest to educate all of our children well. And
when we don’t, shame on us. So that’s the thing that
drives me.”
Before Governor Bruce Rauner and the Illinois
State Board of Education tapped Smith to become
State Superintendent, Smith had served four years as
superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District
in California. He previously had been superintendent
in Emeryville (California) and deputy superintendent
in San Francisco. His wife, Kathleen, is a native of
Oak Park and two years ago they moved back to the
Chicago suburbs because of her father’s illness.
Smith became the executive director of the W.
Clement and Jessie V. Stone Foundation, which
gives millions to support children’s development and
education.
Asked why he would take on the job of schools
chief in Illinois -- where the budget deficit is among
the largest in the nation, the school funding formula is
outdated and the political infighting is legendary --
Smith reflected for a moment before answering.
When he spoke it was about the state’s potential, but
also maybe about his personal competitiveness when
it comes to tackling a really good challenge.
“The core reason I said yes when I was
approached by (ISBE) Chairman (James) Meeks is
that there is an incredible opportunity to serve in the
moment that we’re in and to help figure out how to
support school districts in meeting the needs of so
many different parts of their communities. It’s an
incredible diversity of needs and districts are
stretched. Figuring out how to be a good support and
service organization for those districts is important to
me.
“There are some really extraordinary leaders,
amazing practices and some phenomenal programs
in Illinois. I mean we are leading the country in some
early childhood work, some community development
work and engagement with youth. The work that
Illinois has taken up around Common Core and the
new Illinois Learning Standards also puts us in a
position to support children and families for the world
that’s coming. So there’s much to build on.”
Smith’s career path to becoming the schools chief
in the fifth largest state in the nation not only defied
the odds, but also his own boyhood plans to play in
the NFL – ambitions that almost were realized but for
a series of injuries. He was named the Most
Improved Lineman at Cal in 1987 and in 1989 was
named the Golden Bears’ Most Valuable Lineman
and Most Outstanding Senior. He signed with the
Green Bay Packers, but suffered a shoulder injury
that required surgery. Later, he was traded to the San
Francisco 49ers, but suffered other injuries. After
three surgeries in 14 months, the finality that his NFL
dream was over hit Smith hard, a feeling he once
described as “vertigo.”
“She was really a thoughtful and
wonderful person who listened to the things
that were on my mind. She said, ‘Tony,
remember how you helped your
teammates? I don’t know why you don’t see
this: You’re an educator.’
--Smith returned to Cal after
injuries ended his NFL dreams. He
credits the head of Cal’s Athletic
Studies center, Jo Baker, with
helping him find his career path as
an educator.