Mary Ann Smith started out as a secondary English and journalism teacher which was the foundation for all that came next. She directed the Bay Area and California Writing Projects, co-directed the National Writing Project and served as its government relations director. During this time, Mary Ann had the good fortune to work with and learn from teachers around the country and on military bases abroad. She has had numerous occasions to feature the extraordinary work that teachers do, including during invited testimonies before U.S. House and Senate subcommittees and in seven books and multiple articles. Her happiest place to be is the beach and her super power is her loving, occasionally boisterous family.