Billie Jo Smith

Billie Jo Smith worked as an educator and biologist for 37 years (24 in Lincoln County). She was a classroom teacher in Missouri; Minnesota; Washington D.C.; and in Yachats and Toledo, Oregon. Most of her career was devoted to school curriculum and professional development for the Minnesota Environmental Sciences Foundation, Minneapolis Public Schools, the Oregon Department of Education, and the Lincoln County School District. Billie Jo worked closely with the Sea Grant program at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, involving Lincoln County teachers and students in marine education experiences. She also received a Murdock Foundation Research Fellowship with Dr John Chapman at Hatfield. She served as a NOAA Teacher at Sea, and as a NASA Foster Teacher. Billie Jo holds a BA in Biology and Education from William Jewell College, and an MS in Biology from the University of Michigan.

Her governmental experiences include her past positions as Mayor for the City of Toledo, the Lincoln County School District Board of Directors and the City of Toledo Budget Committee.

In addition to the OCCC Foundation Board and the OCCC Budget Committee, Billie Jo’s community involvement includes: the Toledo Chamber of Commerce; the Friends of the Greater Toledo Pool; Lincoln Community Dispute Resolution Board; Lincoln County Democratic Central Committee; Georgia Pacific Community Advisory Committee; Central Coast Stand for Children; and the proposed Children’s Trust of Lincoln County.