Lelani Smith

6th/7th Grade Spanish Teacher

Lelani Smith joined ANCS in 2026 as the Lead Spanish Teacher for 6th and 7th grades. She is excited to begin her first full year as a lead teacher and is passionate about helping students develop language skills while fostering curiosity about different cultures and perspectives.

Ms. Smith is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme graduate and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages and Cultures from Kennesaw State University. She also holds a Master of Science in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Educational Innovation and Leadership at Augusta University. In addition, she earned a TEFL/TESOL certificate while teaching in Guatemala.

Prior to joining ANCS, Ms. Smith served as a College and Career Counselor and Academic Advisor at an IB Diploma Programme high school. She also worked as a Community Liaison for Children 1st Community Development Services, a foster care agency in Atlanta, and as a Graduate Research Assistant for the Women in STEM program at Georgia Tech. She brings three years of experience in education and is excited to continue inspiring students through language learning.

Outside of school, Ms. Smith is a second-degree black belt in taekwondo and an avid soccer fan who rarely misses an Atlanta United home match. She enjoys traveling and spending time at the beach with her fiancé, who is also a teacher. As a first-generation Guyanese American, she enjoys celebrating and sharing different cultures, and she loves spending time with her adorable puppy, Soca, named after the music genre.