Jessica Smith

Jessica was born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina. She graduated from Charles B. Aycock High School and attended Wayne Community College. During those years, she faithfully served at Goldsboro Worship Center as a children's church leader, youth leader, women's ministry member, and altar team leader. She also served as an instructional assistant for kindergarten and second grade in Wayne County Public Schools for six years, where she discovered her passion for the classroom and working with children.

Jessica returned to school and earned her Bachelor's degree in Special Education–General Curriculum with a concentration in Reading. During that time, she married her high school sweetheart, Travis. After graduation, she served as a Special Education Resource Teacher with Greene County Schools for five and a half years, working with students in kindergarten through third grade. She later earned her certification in Physical Education and spent five years teaching elementary PE in Wayne County Public Schools.

Several years ago, Jessica and her family were blessed with the opportunity to move to the Wilmington area, where Travis serves as pastor of Encounter Point Church (formerly Brookfield Church). Jessica, Travis, and their two children have called Wilmington home for nearly four years, and she has truly fallen in love with the area. For the past three years, she has served as a preschool teacher in Pender County Schools and is thrilled and honored to join the Northside family for the 2026–2027 school year.

Throughout her 19-year career in public education, Jessica has served in numerous leadership roles, including grade-level teams, grade-level chair, PBIS student behavior teams, and the School Improvement Team. She has also faithfully supported the daily life of her schools through car rider duty, bus duty, breakfast monitoring, and many other responsibilities. She holds a current North Carolina Professional Educator's License.

When she's not in the classroom, Jessica enjoys relaxing at the beach, spending time with her family, serving alongside her husband at their church, listening to worship music, reading, visiting Disney World, shopping, playing miniature golf, and encouraging others with joy and laughter.