April Rice

April joins Study Smart Tutors as a Grants Coordinator after 22 years in K-12 and higher education. She is an educator by profession, but a teacher by heart.

As a first generation student, April received her bachelors in Health Science Education at Brigham Young University-Idaho and a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Mississippi College. She is also certified in Success Coaching with an emphasis on first generation college students and trauma-informed coaching.

Her education career began as a teacher in a Level 6 juvenile correctional facility in central Florida where she developed a love for marginalized and underserved students. Throughout her career, April has taught special education, science, STEM and engineering classes, developed dropout prevention programs, presented at national conferences, master teacher trainer, developed state wide curriculum, and served in administration capacities in the K-12 sector.

Before joining Study Smart Tutors, she served for a number of years as Director of Tulane University’s Upward Bound Program, a college access and persistence program (TRIO) for potential first-generation high school students, where students enrolled in postsecondary education graduated at a rate of 73%, almost four times higher than the national average of similar backgrounds.

She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards including Northwest Rankin High School Teacher of the Year, Rankin County Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year, and Rankin County School District Teacher of the Year. However, the awards she cherishes above all else are seeing her former students achieve success academically and in their personal lives. April’s life mission is to serve. Serve the child, serve the community, serve the young adult, serve an individual toward their own, unique path