Meet The Director

CAROLYN J. SMITH

Carolyn J. Smith is Director of International Admissions and Student Programs for Hyde Schools.

Northwestern University, BS Drama and Communications, minor in English
Penn State University, University Park
Elmira College, MS Education and Administration: my graduate these was the evolution of the Japanese woman from Genjii to Post-World War II
Fifth Year at Hyde

Mrs. Smith’s First Hyde Experience

I was recruited by Isaacson-Miller in Boston to become the Executive Director of Admission and Marketing for the Hyde Schools in Maine and Connecticut. I came for my interviews in July of 2005 and knew Hyde was where I wanted to be. I continued in this position for three years before becoming involved with international admissions and development of relevant programs.

Mrs. Smith’s Past Experience

After graduating from Northwestern, I became Assistant Director of On-Air Traffic which involved advertising scheduling at ABC in New York. I then moved to Nashville where I was the Director of on-air program and advertising scheduling for WSM.

Forty-seven years ago, when my husband became an Army office, I began as an instructor of English and history in the Ft. Devens Army Education Center in the mornings and taught Kindergarten on post in the afternoons. Later I was a teacher and principal of a K-6 grade school of over 500 students in New York State. I was Head of School of the primary grades at a very large day school in Connecticut where I also was Chair of the Performing Arts Department for grades K-12. I have been Director of Admission and Marketing at three schools, specializing in significant enrollment growth. Since the 1980’s I have been an international admission interviewer when I began recruiting international students for the Connecticut day school. I have also held the position of Director of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs for another boarding school where we successfully completed a major capitol campaign and increased Annual Giving by over 400%. I am now a Trustee of that school, serving as Chair of the Education Committee.

During my career I have taught many subjects but I am most proud of the more than 120 productions I have directed and produced since 1960. At Hyde in Bath I have produced three Cultural Heritage Celebrations, involving dozens of students from around the world.

At Hyde I teach Public Speaking/Performing arts, a class which most international students take and which significantly improves their diction, pronunciation and self-confidence. This spring we are doing a short version of CATS.

Mrs. Smith’s Life Experience

I am married to my childhood sweetheart who is a corporate CEO. We have two daughters, one of whom is a prep school administrator and the other who is involved in advertising and her family’s business. Our four grandchildren range in age from 7 to 13 and are quite delightful and great athletes! I have been very involved with philanthropic organizations and have served as a Board member for several symphonies in New York and Connecticut, the New York State Girl Scouts, historical societies, and the Delta Gamma Sorority. I am a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Educators Honorary. My personal interests include gourmet cooking, reading, gardening, my English Springer puppy, and, most of all, a happy family life.