Melissa Smith currently works in the Lawrence Public Schools as the Assistant Director of Bands at Lawrence Free State High School, Assistant Director of Bands for sixth & seventh grade and Assistant Director of Orchestra for sixth grade at West Middle School.  Mrs. Smith came to Lawrence from Boone High School in Boone, Iowa, where she was the Director of Bands for ten years.  During her time in Boone, the band program received superior ratings at regional concert band and solo/ensemble festivals, and contributed numerous students to the Iowa all-state band and other regional honor bands. 

Prior to her time in Iowa, Mrs. Smith directed the band programs in Moody, Texas, served as a band and orchestra director at her alma mater in Danville, Illinois, and began her teaching career in Highland, Illinois.  Ensembles under her direction have performed in festivals at the Gator and Liberty Bowls, and in concert in New York City.   She has worked with a number of color guards at the high school level, and was the flag instructor at Iowa State University from 2003-2008.  She is currently the color guard instructor for the Marching Jayhawks at the Univeristy of Kansas.

Mrs. Smith holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from the University of Illinois.  She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota and has an honorary membership in Tau Beta Sigma.  Mrs. Smith is also an accomplished oboist, having performed in many community and regional bands and orchestras, including the Central Iowa Symphony, Danville Symphony, and currently the Lawrence Community Orchestra.