Starting this August, long-time language arts teacher and former Georgia Southwestern State University adjunct professor April Smith will take the reins as Treasure Village Montessori’s new principal.
Her decades of experience as a middle grades teacher and a former assistant principal informed the TVM board’s decision to appoint Smith, who moved to the Keys from southwest Georgia last month.
Smith is excited to take on her role. When she visited Treasure Village in Islamorada for the first time, Smith was “struck by how student-centered everyone was.” The Islamorada public charter school maintains a focus on the Montessori learning philosophy and serves students from VPK through eighth grade.
“The campus visit was magical. It felt like a values match from the beginning, and I appreciated the board’s thoroughness and vision,” Smith said.
Her experiences of life in the Keys thus far have been in the same positive vein.
“It’s amazing (here). My husband, Buddha, is in heaven and has already racked up hours on the water. My dogs have taken lizard hunting to the next level and caught an iguana yesterday,” Smith said. “There’s a spirit of joy, generosity and gratitude everywhere, and I have loved settling in here.”
Smith was likewise impressed by the academic excellence displayed throughout the A-rated county.
“I have also been very impressed with the strides that Florida has taken in school safety and security. For schools, learning is our main objective, but safety has to be our top priority, and it has been very reassuring to see how strong an emphasis there is in that area.”
This will be Smith’s first year with the principal position.
“I was at my last school for 18 years, and I’m hoping I can be here in this role for 18 more,” Smith said. In Georgia, she was recognized as a National Outstanding Assistant Principal in 2024, and her book, “Successful Middle School Transitions,” was recently published by the Association for Middle Level Education. She has worked for more than two decades in education.
In her role as principal, Smith hopes to listen and learn.
“I want to honor what’s already working at TVM while also identifying opportunities for growth,” Smith said. She anticipates that in her first year she can learn more about the school and community.
As principal, she plans to further the Montessori tradition that has long been at the heart of Treasure Village’s mission. “Most importantly, I want each of our students to leave here confident, curious and kind,” said Smith.
