Mildred Saffell-Smith
Assistant Professor
Degrees: Ph.D., Educational Administration, George Peabody @ Vanderbilt;
M.A.Ed., Elementary Education, Tennessee State Univ.;
BS, English, Tennessee State Univ.
Office Location: Bone Hall
Phone: 615.547.1305
E-mail: msaffell-smith@cumberland.edu
Degrees: Ph.D., Educational Administration, George Peabody @ Vanderbilt;
M.A.Ed., Elementary Education, Tennessee State Univ.;
BS, English, Tennessee State Univ.
Office Location: Bone Hall
Phone: 615.547.1305
E-mail: msaffell-smith@cumberland.edu
Dr. Mildred Saffell-Smith recently joined the Cumberland community as a faculty member in Division III Educational Studies. After thirty-four years as an educator with the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, higher education was the natural segue for the second phase of her career.
From the varied positions she held while employed with MNPS, Dr. Saffell-Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the teacher education program. As a middle school principal, she implemented an ongoing staff development program and reorganized the junior high school into a middle school. This laid the foundation for the 5-8-grade tier that exists now. As a high school principal, she researched and implemented an engineering program that complemented the academic focus of the school's mission. Responding to the needs of students, she implemented an instrumental music program that receives the highest ratings and that tripled in enrollment and continues to expand. A visionary leader, she worked closely with parents and staff, leading progressive staff development initiatives that fostered a learning community. The school achieved A+ status and recognition for excellence in academics.
Selected to work with the Governor's Better Schools Program, she received training as an evaluator in the Career Ladder System. A Level III administrator, Dr. Saffell-Smith credits the training as the most influential on her interest in data-driven educational decision making and the area of measurement and evaluation of programs and effective teaching.
She received two grants that further extended that interest. One grant was awarded through MTSU to attend a summer training institute on educational leadership with selected faculty. The second was the Frist Principal's Award for summer study at the Phi Delta Kappa Institute on educational measurement. Early on, she was selected to attend the Bell South Excellent Principal's Institute. The institute was modeled on the business prototype for training executives in decision making and diversity.
Dr. Saffell-Smith teaches Education as a Profession, the foundation course for prospective teachers, Tests and Measurement, Developmental Studies and English Composition.
A native of Nashville, she received her undergraduate degree in English from Tennessee State University. She received the Ph. D. in Educational Administration from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She did post-doctoral study at the University of Tennessee in a yearlong Sex Equity Administrator Training Institute.
Dr. Saffell-Smith works with several civic and community-based organizations in addressing the needs of underrepresented populations. Currently, she sponsors the African American Student Association at Cumberland.
From the varied positions she held while employed with MNPS, Dr. Saffell-Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the teacher education program. As a middle school principal, she implemented an ongoing staff development program and reorganized the junior high school into a middle school. This laid the foundation for the 5-8-grade tier that exists now. As a high school principal, she researched and implemented an engineering program that complemented the academic focus of the school's mission. Responding to the needs of students, she implemented an instrumental music program that receives the highest ratings and that tripled in enrollment and continues to expand. A visionary leader, she worked closely with parents and staff, leading progressive staff development initiatives that fostered a learning community. The school achieved A+ status and recognition for excellence in academics.
Selected to work with the Governor's Better Schools Program, she received training as an evaluator in the Career Ladder System. A Level III administrator, Dr. Saffell-Smith credits the training as the most influential on her interest in data-driven educational decision making and the area of measurement and evaluation of programs and effective teaching.
She received two grants that further extended that interest. One grant was awarded through MTSU to attend a summer training institute on educational leadership with selected faculty. The second was the Frist Principal's Award for summer study at the Phi Delta Kappa Institute on educational measurement. Early on, she was selected to attend the Bell South Excellent Principal's Institute. The institute was modeled on the business prototype for training executives in decision making and diversity.
Dr. Saffell-Smith teaches Education as a Profession, the foundation course for prospective teachers, Tests and Measurement, Developmental Studies and English Composition.
A native of Nashville, she received her undergraduate degree in English from Tennessee State University. She received the Ph. D. in Educational Administration from Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. She did post-doctoral study at the University of Tennessee in a yearlong Sex Equity Administrator Training Institute.
Dr. Saffell-Smith works with several civic and community-based organizations in addressing the needs of underrepresented populations. Currently, she sponsors the African American Student Association at Cumberland.