Ashley Smith Juarez is Executive Director of the Chartrand Foundation, a family foundation launched in 2006 to support public education and early childhood initiatives. Ashley is a Jacksonville native who studied at Vanderbilt University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude, earning a bachelor’s degree in History and Secondary Education. While receiving her degree, she was a substitute teacher and worked with English Language Learners in the Nashville School District. She then returned to Jacksonville to teach middle school social studies for The Bolles School, an independent K-12 school. Ashley taught for five years, coached both soccer and track, served as an advisor to the Student Honor Council and presented at conferences on technology integration in the classroom. Although Ashley was passionate about her role in the classroom, her convictions regarding opportunity for youth led her to work as a Student Advocate for the Duval County Take Stock in Children program facilitated by Communities in Schools of Jacksonville. In this role she worked with students and their families, guidance counselors, teachers, principals, community partners and volunteer mentors in 16 Duval County middle and high schools. In 2008, Ashley transitioned to The Chartrand Foundation to improve education at a systemic level. In addition, Ashley currently serves on the board of her own family’s foundation, the Emily Balz Smith Foundation founded in 1997, as well as the Board of Trustees at WJCT, the Take Stock in Children Leadership Council, the Family Support Services Board of Directors and the Women’s Giving Alliance Steering Committee. She also continues to work with students through volunteer tutoring and mentoring.
