Katy J. Smith is the daughter of a coal miner and his wife. She and her siblings, a sister and two brothers, grew up in the Edmond-Lookout-Beauty Mountain region of Fayette County WV. She is a first-generation college graduate, earning her Bachelor’s degree in English and History and her teaching certification from West Virginia Institute of Technology in Montgomery, WV. In addition, she earned a Masters degree in Reading Education with a specialist certification from West Virginia College of Graduate Studies, now Marshall University Graduate School. She was also a National Board Certified Teacher in Literacy and Language.

She spent her professional career as an elementary teacher for Kanawha County Schools. She retired from teaching in 2021. She also was an adjunct instructor for WVTech in English and spent several summers teaching with Tech’s Upward Bound program. She also worked five summers with the National Youth Science Camp, an honors camp for graduating seniors. The National Youth Science Camp, now called the National Youth Science Academy, is considered one of the premier science experiences available and is perhaps the longest-lasting STEM education program nationally.

Katy and her husband (who is an emeritus assistant professor from WVU Tech in Beckley) live part-time in both Montgomery and Barboursville, WV.  They have one daughter and two grandsons. In her spare time, Katy likes to read, cook healthier meals, and travel.