Karen Smith-DiFazio

Program Facilitator

With a Master’s degree in Education and over 20 years of experience, Karen has dedicated her career to transforming the lives of students by fostering meaningful connections and creating opportunities for growth. As an English teacher, department head, and mentor at a continuation high school in South Los Angeles, has has consistently supported students from low-income, high-poverty backgrounds, often being the trusted adult they turn to for guidance and encouragement. Her expertise includes curriculum development, engagement strategies specialist, professional development facilitation, and educational writing, with a focus on creating inclusive and impactful learning environments. She has also contributed to curriculum analysis research at USC and served as an educational consultant and freelance tutor.

Additionally, she is an editor and contributing author of SEL and BEYOND and has a passion for travel, with experiences in countries including England, India, Dubai, Spain, South Korea, and Australia, among others. Teaching is Karen’s calling—you might even say it’s in her blood, with both of her parents being teachers—and she feels a deep sense of duty in helping students unlock their potential and prepare to tackle the world’s biggest challenges.