Dr. Barriett Smith

Barriett Smith became the Principal of Vicenza Middle School (VMS) in January 2021. VMS is a school of 250 students, Sixth through Eighth Grade, located in the Vicenza Military Community.

Dr. Smith graduated from Kaiserslautern American High School. He received his undergraduate degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. He also received his Masters in Special Education at Northern Arizona. He taught sixth grade at Northern Arizona University for one year. He taught two years at Kenny Guinn Junior High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, before receiving the opportunity to teach with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools. He has served at Giessen Middle, Sembach Elementary, Landstuhl Elementary/Middle and Kaiserslautern High School. In 2007, Dr. Smith was awarded his second Masters in Leadership in School Administration, from Capella University. He earned his Doctorate in Special Education and Leadership, from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD in August 2011. He was named Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc, Educator of the Year, November 2019.

Dr. Smith has spent the majority of his teaching career in the area of Special Education. He has been an assistant principal at Ramstein Middle for four years and Ramstein High School for two years. Dr. Smith spent seven years as the Principal of Kaiserslautern High School, before becoming the Principal of Sembach Elementary School for the 2019-2020 school year. On January 4, 2021, Dr. Smith became Principal of Vicenza Middle School.

Dr. Smith’s basic educational philosophy is that at all levels of education, teaching and learning should be centered on students, all students can be successful if they put forth the hard work and effort needed and the right opportunity is provided to them. He also believes that all students must be career or college ready at the end of their high school years; mastering the skills of communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking. He is a believer that we must work in a collaborative manner; with educators, students and parents working together to ensure that students receive the best education possible. This amounts to a belief in building strong personal relationships, shared leadership, shared responsibility, and taking risks to move forward.

Dr. Smith is married to his wife, Laura. He has five children, Mandra, Braden, Genorace, Brice, and Samara. Mandra, Braden and Genorace were also graduates of Kaiserslautern High School. Dr. Smith enjoys sports, reading, and spending time with family and friends.