Sarah Smith Elementary School

Mr. Dwight Hutson, Principal

Dwight Hutson has been an educator for over twenty years in Atlanta Public Schools and has worked as an administrator for over a decade in the North Atlanta Cluster. He began his career as a high school Spanish teacher before venturing into elementary school as an ESOL teacher. His passion for languages and technology led him to work as an Educational Technology Specialist and Model Teacher Leader for World Languages. During those years, he presented at several conferences and was known as an expert in integrating new technologies into his World Language and ESOL classrooms.

No stranger to diversity, Mr. Hutson has lived in South America, Germany, and Mexico in addition to his numerous travels to other countries throughout the world. From a young age, his exposure to different cultures taught him to appreciate the rich and diverse traditions of the world.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, attending church, hiking, video editing, recording voiceovers, learning the latest technologies, and working with various non-profit organizations.

To email Mr. Hutson, click here.

Jennifer Chestnutt is a staff Go Team representative who serves as the literacy/social studies instructional coach. Jennifer was born and raised in Georgia, calling Atlanta home for 20 years. She has over 20 years of experience in education, with 17 of those serving the students of Atlanta Public Schools. Jennifer graduated from Columbus State University with a degree in Middle Grades Education. Then went on to pursue a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Troy State University and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University. In addition to these degrees, she holds a gifted endorsement, is Google certified, and is currently working on her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at Valdosta State University. Jennifer is passionate about all things teaching and learning with the goal of providing all students at Sarah Smith with an equitable education that instills a lifelong love of learning. If you would like to email Jennifer, please click here.

Cimona V. Hinton Dirickson is a GOTeam parent representative. She and her husband Darryl are parents to Darryl II (1st grade DLI), and Daria (Preschool II, GA Tech). She is also involved in Sarah Smith’s Multicultural Committee, and is the parent-Chair of the Black History Program. Cimona earned a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Meharry Medical College, and completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. She is Full Professor of Biological Sciences and senior faculty in the Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development at Clark Atlanta University. If you would like to email Cimona, click here.

Ben Miller is a GOTeam parent representative, and also serves as our Chair. Ben and his wife, Rachel Miller, have three daughters. Two are currently enrolled in Sarah Smith's Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program. Ben's involvement as a Sarah Smith parent began in 2015 when his eldest daughter was in Pre-K and he actively took part in initial meetings to establish the DLI program, including recruitment of families for the first year. Since then, he has served on the PTO’s multicultural committee and DLI committee. Ben earned his Ph.D. in economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University in 2008, with a focus in labor economics and public finance. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Business Administration in international economics, and a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic linguistics. Ben is currently a Partner at Bennett Thrasher, an Atlanta-based public accounting firm. If you would like to email Ben, click here.

Bejay Osby is a GOTeam Staff Representative and has been a teacher and community leader at Sarah Smith since 2009. He taught fourth grade for nine years, fifth grade math and science for two years, and primary Health and Physical Education since 2019. He also supports 2nd grade in math intervention and PreK-2nd in Social Emotional Learning. In his tenure, Bejay has served on leadership, safety, and student support teams, hiring committees, and has worked with hundreds of students, families, and community stakeholders. Bejay earned his teaching degrees from Georgia State University and is certified in Early Childhood Education, Health and Physical Education, Orton-Gillingham, and ESOL. As a GO Team member, Bejay's role is to assist in developing a strategic plan and budget to increase student achievement and improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency at Sarah Smith Elementary. His vision is to work with school leadership, parents, and stakeholders to help determine the long-term direction of the school, design innovative solutions to identified problems, and serve as a school ambassador to the local community.  If you would like to email Bejay, please click here.

Karla Lamar is a Go Team staff representative, and the Primary Years Programme Coordinator at Smith. Hailing from Georgia, Karla's roots and passion for education run deep, spanning a 23-year career in the field. With a rich educational background, Karla commenced her journey by earning a degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University. She then expanded her knowledge and expertise by completing a Master's degree from Walden University and a Specialist degree from Lincoln Memorial University. Notably, she also holds an ESOL endorsement, showcasing her commitment to diverse and inclusive learning environments. Karla's educational journey at Smith began in 2013, after a decade of teaching experience in Gwinnett County, where she taught 5th, 3rd, and Kindergarten classes. Her wealth of experience and expertise has positioned her as a valued asset at Smith, where she passionately advocates for the International Baccalaureate program and transdisciplinary learning. Driven by her dedication to fostering a lifelong love of learning, Karla is resolute in providing all students at Sarah Smith with an inquiry-based education. Her ultimate goal is to empower students with the skills and knowledge needed for a successful academic journey while nurturing their curiosity and passion for education. If you would like to email Karla, please click here.

Ann Mintman is a GOTeam parent representative and also serves as our secretary. Ann and her husband Mark have 4 children, three  who currently attend Sarah Smith. Ann’s involvement at Sarah Smith began in 2020 when her family moved to Atlanta from Louisville, Ky and her oldest started Kindergarten. Ann is an active member of the Sarah Smith community. She serves as room parent, on the tours committee, is one of the current chairs of the Teacher Appreciation Committee and she also is one of the Troop Leaders for the Second grade Brownie Troop. Ann earned her Masters degree in Education from Bellarmine University with an Emphasis in Reading and Writing Instruction.  She graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Elementary Education and a Minor in English. Ann has 10 years of teaching experience, which started in Chicago teaching Kindergarten and continued in Louisville, Ky before choosing to take a step back from teaching after the arrival of her second child. She believes in the mission of public education and wants to build upon the strong school community at Sarah Smith. She wants to support the connection between school and home life, which will ultimately lead to engaged families, successful students and a thriving and impactful school.   If you would like to contact Ann, click here.