Pat Smith

Pat Smith is a national award-winning educator who received two Christa McAuliffe Fellowships is a U.S.A. Today All-Star Teacher and more. She retired from teaching in the early 2000's and found her new niche as a researcher for the book, Sprouting Wings, the true story of James Herman Banning, first African American pilot to successfully fly coast-to-coast from Los Angeles, CA to Valley Stream, NY in 1932.

Realizing there are many other stories of people who overcame great challenges to reach their special dreams, she developed the Dare to Dream series of books, with Jessica Cox. These books are for young children and adults. Mary J. Wilson became the first African American woman to be a Senior Zoo Keeper at the Baltimore Zoo during the 1960's. This was a time when women, especially black women, were not thought capable of such difficult tasks. Her true story is a tale of courage, adventure and love. it will inspire children and the adults who care for them, to look beyond their normal expectations and Dare to Dream.