Sydney Smith

Excellent educator: Sydney Smith

School/College: College of Education and Human Development
Degree: BS, early childhood education, 2023
Hometown: Germantown, Philadelphia
Current Job Title: Second grade teacher
Current Employer: School District of Philadelphia

It’s elementary. Sydney Smith, EDU ’23, has long gravitated toward teaching. A native of Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood, Sydney attended a diverse charter school and was inspired by several Black educators there. “They didn’t shy away from teaching us our history,” Sydney says.

Taking Temple classes for college credit as a high school senior, Sydney would leave her school in North Philadelphia at midday and ride the Broad Street Line to Temple’s Main Campus. It was all part of a dual enrollment program facilitated by the College of Education and Human Development called Temple Education Scholars. As one of 12 selected, she jumped at the chance to participate in the program that also provided assistance with filling out college applications and FAFSA forms.

Opportunity knocks. During her senior year at Temple, Sydney was serving as a student teacher at John Moffet School, a public K through five in the School District of Philadelphia located in Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood, when the lead teacher left unexpectedly. She turned obstacle into opportunity, confidently stepping into a leadership role and providing continuity for her students until a long-term substitute got their bearings. The next year, Sydney was hired to fill the position, making her the youngest lead teacher in the school.

Honoree Sydney Smith smiling and standing in her school classroom

“My passion for helping others is innate. Even when I was in elementary school, I would love to help students or explain things to others.”

—Sydney Smith
Second grade teacher

Honoree Sydney Smith smiling and leaning against a mural at the elementary school where she teaches

Making a difference. In 2023, Sydney traveled to Harrisburg to successfully advocate for State Senate Bill 300, which requires stipends for student teachers. For the past four years, she has also served as a mentor for the Freedom Schools Literacy Academy, a program of the nonprofit Center for Black Educator Development. Through the four-week summer program, Sydney helps the next generation of Black and brown high school students explore careers in education.

Leaning in. Originally, Sydney planned to teach in the classroom for only a few years before moving onto administration. But like those who mentored her in elementary school, Sydney has found it rewarding to teach at Moffet, where 3 out of 4 children are Black, brown or Asian American. “I definitely want to stay in the classroom for a while,” she says. “I love my interactions with my students and being a lead teacher.”

Photography by Joseph V. Labolito
Videography by Eric Lovett Jr.