Known as the little girl getting her hair combed in the motion picture, nominated for 11 Academy Awards in 1985, Dr. Chameeka Smith continues her journey as an educator, motivational speaker and educational specialist for at-risk youth. As an Alumna of North Carolina A&T State University, Chameeka has earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health, Master of Science in Vocational Industrial Education and Master of Arts in Teaching in Technology Education.  In addition, she has earned her Post Master Certification in School Administration and Specialist in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 
 
She has over 10 years of experience working with first generation, low socioeconomic students and their families in several school districts. She has worked for both a state GEAR UP grant and partnership GEAR UP grant in North Carolina and South Carolina.
 
As a licensed North Carolina Principal Administrator and Teacher, she completed her school-based clinical administrative residency through the Piedmont Triad  Leadership Academy (PTLA) with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She has presented at the National GEAR UP Conference and the Statewide North Carolina Conference on “Moving from Boredom to Engagement” as participants engaged in several evidence-based instructional strategies. She believes in transforming leaders into authentic world-changers and is committed to the work of doing what is in the best interest for All children. 

In December 2016, she published her first book entitled “Why Did My Pastor Have to Die? The Pain of Letting go...Behind the Cameras”, where she walks through the pain of losing a pastor but finds hope, joy, and peace on the other side of the loss.

In 2023, she published her second book, It Doesn't Hurt Anymore: A Black Woman's Fight for Overcoming Racial Tensions Within a Toxic Workplace. Available on Amazon 

She completed her Specialist in Educational Leadership (Ed.S) and Doctor in Education (Ed.D.) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. 

In addition to her full time position, she is also the founder and Executive Director of The Brotherhood of Excellence Academy,  nonprofit organization with the mission of Ending Fatherless Generations.