Karen Smith

Karen Smith is serving her third term on the Central Bucks School Board in Bucks County Pennsylvania. Central Bucks faced an onslaught of attacks by extremist anti-equity parent groups and is one of the communities that led the nation in book banning and pride flag banning policies. Re-elected during a fierce campaign in 2023, Karen is now School Board President of a "flipped" board, and her swearing-in ceremony on a stack of banned books went viral.

Her experience on school boards as they navigate these political changes is unique. Karen continues to fight for the best interests of all students while extremism makes that mission more challenging by sowing disinformation and discord.

Karen is a recently retired school public relations professional, has three grown children and a granddaughter.