Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristina Kyles-Smith.
Kristina, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I currently serve as the CEO of Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School. Which is such an amazing schools. It is my pleasure to share a bit about this really awesome place. Lillie May Charter School was created by educators and community members who believed girls in Baltimore deserved a public school built with care, intention, and deep respect for who they are. Rooted in East Baltimore, the school was designed to hold learning, character, and community together.
Over time, the school has grown thoughtfully, guided by strong relationships with families, staff, and the surrounding neighborhood. The work has been steady rather than flashy, focused on trust, consistency, and creating a culture where students are known, supported, and challenged.
Today, Lillie May serves middle school girls with an emphasis on meaningful learning, strong relationships, and a sense of belonging. The school values rigor alongside joy, structure alongside grace, and progress that is built through care and commitment.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like most schools built with care and intention, the road has not been perfectly smooth—but it has been purposeful.
Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School has grown in a real-world context that requires flexibility, patience, and persistence. Over time, the school has navigated meaningful transitions, including relocating its physical home from the Woodburne neighborhood to South Clifton Park—a beautiful challenge that required deep collaboration with families, staff, and community partners to ensure continuity and care. As a small, mission-driven middle school serving girls, the school has also had to thoughtfully navigate fluctuating enrollment patterns across Baltimore City while remaining clear about who it serves and why.
Like schools everywhere, Lillie May was shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus during and after that period was less about perfection and more about presence—rebuilding routines, restoring connection, and supporting students and staff as they returned to learning together. That season reinforced the importance of relationships, communication, and steady leadership.
Supporting middle school girls brings its own set of beautiful challenges. This stage of life calls for patience, joy, structure, and deep attentiveness. The school has learned to move at the pace of its students—creating space for growth, self-discovery, and leadership, while holding clear expectations and care in equal measure.
What stands out in every season is the school’s steadiness. Even when conditions shifted, classrooms remained places of belonging, families stayed engaged, and staff continued to show up with consistency and heart. The strength of Lillie May has never been in avoiding challenges, but in how it meets them—with reflection, collaboration, and an enduring commitment to the girls it serves.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Our work centers on building and sustaining a public middle school designed intentionally for girls during one of the most formative stages of their lives.
Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School specializes in educating middle school girls through a project-based, arts-infused approach that emphasizes relationships, character development, and meaningful learning. We pay close attention to how girls experience school—not just academically, but socially and emotionally—and we design structures like advisory, reflection, and student exhibitions to support their growth with care and consistency.
We are known for being thoughtful and grounded in our practice. Rather than chasing trends, we focus on building strong routines, supporting teachers, and creating a school culture where students are known well and families feel connected. Much of our work happens in the small, daily moments that build trust and belonging over time.
What we are most proud of is the culture we continue to nurture—a place where girls are encouraged to find their voice, take intellectual risks, and grow into themselves with confidence and support. What sets Lillie May apart is not a single program or claim, but a commitment to doing this work with humility, love, and long-term care.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
This work has never belonged to one person. Lillie May Carroll Jackson Charter School exists because of a wide circle of people who have carried it, believed in it, and stayed with it through different seasons.
First and foremost, credit belongs to our students and families. Their trust, partnership, and honesty shape the school every day. Families show up not only in moments of celebration, but also in moments that require patience, conversation, and shared problem-solving. That relationship—built on care and mutual respect—has always been foundational.
Our teachers and staff deserve deep recognition as well. They bring consistency, creativity, and commitment to the daily work of educating middle school girls. Much of what makes the school feel steady and human comes from their willingness to know students well, reflect on practice, and stay grounded in purpose.
We are supported by a dedicated board and community partners who help hold the long view—offering guidance, accountability, and advocacy. In particular, our founding board chair, Monica Mitchell, played a critical role in shaping the school’s early direction. Alongside her, several founding board members offered thoughtful leadership during the school’s formative years, helping to establish a strong and values-driven foundation.
Lillie May’s origin story is also unique. The school was brought about through collaboration among educators and leaders connected to Roland Park Country School, Bryn Mawr School, and Gilman School—a rare example of cross-sector partnership rooted in shared commitment to girls’ education in Baltimore. Roland Park Country School also served as an incubating partner in the school’s early development, and that relationship continues today in a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect.
As a small public school, philanthropy has also played a critical role in sustaining the work. We are deeply grateful to long-standing funders who have invested in the school’s mission over time and other local and national partners who have supported our growth, stability, and long-term vision. Their belief in the school has helped ensure that care, creativity, and opportunity remain at the center of our work.
We also hold deep gratitude for the family of Lillie May Carroll Jackson, whose legacy and generosity made it possible for the school to carry her name with intention. Their support rooted the school in history and responsibility from the very beginning.
Beyond those named, there are mentors, colleagues, and fellow educators—within Baltimore and beyond—who have offered wisdom, encouragement, and perspective along the way. Their quiet counsel has helped the school move thoughtfully, especially during moments of transition.
The endurance and growth of Lillie May are the result of collective effort. It is a school built and sustained by many hands, shared responsibility, and a deep belief in what is possible when people choose to show up for girls and for one another.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lilliemay.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/lilliemayforlife/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMCJS
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lillie-may-carroll-jackson-charter-school/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmcj2200
