Tanja Smiley has served the LISD community since 2006.  After defecting from the “Golden State” of California and moving her family to the great “Lone Star” state of Texas, she began her LISD career as an English Language Arts teacher at Marcus High School.  In 2008, she also began teaching for the LISD online program and has shared her ongoing desire to help grow the program.  Since 2012, Tanja has dedicated her efforts full time to the Virtual Learning Academy and helping students be successful in their online courses. She has served as both teacher and mentor for students.

Prior to embarking on a career in education, Tanja worked as a social worker in foster care placement and child abuse investigations.

Tanja holds a masters degree in Psychology and a dual bachelor’s degree in Social Science and English from California State University, San Bernardino.  She earned her online teaching certification from Texas A&M.

Fun fact:  Consistently hides vegetables in every meal and feeds it to the family; currently a black belt

Interests: tennis, archery and martial arts with her family

Hidden skill: talent for poking dead things with a stick