Catherine N. Smith has always had a desire for educating youth. That desire has since turned into a passion for not only educating youth, but using emerging technologies to engage youth!! Catherine Smith is no stranger to the Computer Information Systems industry or the field of Education. She is a graduate of the University of Houston (Central Campus), where she specialized in Information Systems Technology with a minor in Corporate Training and Development. Her post graduate work included training in Occupational Technology and Business Education. During her studies at the University of Houston, Catherine worked at various local banks and software firms. Shortly after her collegiate studies, she worked as a Software Automation Specialist for a Houston based Investment Firm and she worked as an Office Manager at a local mega church.
Catherine’s 14 year educational experience includes teaching business and technology subjects at Bellaire, Lamar, and Austin High Schools, as well as Houston Community College. Further, in 1998 Ms. Smith was chosen by the Texas Education Agency to write the statewide Banking and Finance curriculum which corresponded with the then new TEKS. Currently, Ms. Smith is a dual credit BCIS2 instructor and a 9th Grade Teaching Professions Magnet instructor at Austin High School, where she has been for the past 11 years. Most recently, this past summer 2009, Catherine was chosen by the Houston Community College to serve as a consultant and to pilot the first ever mLearning (mobile learning) dual credit class where she taught Microsoft Office ’07 using the iPod Touch (note: the see the special link to the web article and video of the iTouch class is posted on this site). »
She has received numerous awards and accolades such as Teacher of the Year by BFI Waste Systems, and she has been nominated Teacher of the Year several times at Austin High School. She has also served as the Media Arts and Technology Academy Coordinator and the BCIS SOSA Lead Teacher at Austin as well. Her certifications include the Texas State Business Education/Office Education and Business Administration Certification; a Speech Communications Certification; an IC3 certification; an OSHA certification; and a Master Microsoft Certification, of which she was the first teacher in the district to obtain the Master Microsoft Certification. Most recently, Ms. Smith and Mrs. Barbara Ammons completed the training and sucessful assessment of students from Austin High School in the Microsoft ’07 (MCAS) certification. These students are the very first to complete this new Microsoft certification.
During her spare time, Ms. Smith is a licensed and ordained minister and is the Founder and Executive Director of Power4Life Ministries, a local ministry serving adults and youth with a federal non-profit status. She enjoys shopping, serving in the community, and spending time with her family.