Austin, Texas (May 22, 2024) – Raise Your Hand Texas today announced that its executive director, Dr. Michelle Smith, has chosen to leave the organization to pursue new leadership opportunities as a public education advocate. Dr. Smith will serve as a special advisor to the organization in a consultative role beginning in June.

Dr. Smith has been an integral part of Charles Butt’s and Raise Your Hand Texas’ work since 2010, initially serving as a contract lobbyist at HillCo Partners, according to Raise Your Hand. She later became Raise Your Hand’s director of governmental relations in 2018 and assumed the role of executive director in 2022. Throughout her tenure, she oversaw policy development, legislative engagement, and advocacy efforts for the organization.

Her contributions to the organizations work include facilitating the passage of House Bill 3 in 2019, securing additional investments in high-quality pre-K programs, delivering $17.9 billion in federal stimulus funds to school districts for pandemic recovery in 2021, aiding in the passage of the state’s aspiring teacher scholarship framework, and creating Raise Your Hand Texas’ statewide advocacy program and Trustee Advocates Program.

“Dr. Smith has served Raise Your Hand Texas for years, greatly impacting and improving the lives of Texas’ 5.5 million students,” said Elizabeth Lorenz, a member of the Raise Your Hand Texas Board of Directors. “Her work, dedication, and partnership with Texas legislators and their communities have broadened and strengthened support for education in Texas’ more than 1,250 school districts across the state. She will be greatly missed.”