Kadeidra Smoots
Senior Executive Director, Human Resources
Kadeidra Smoots has been appointed Senior Executive Director of Human Resources, succeeding Kim Hager, now serving as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. In her new role with DPS, Smoots will oversee all aspects of human resources related to staffing for both certified/licensed and classified positions.
Smoots returns to Durham Public Schools from Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools where she served as Executive Director of Talent and Acquisition. In that role, she was responsible for data-driven recruitment and retention efforts and collaborating with educational institutions and external stakeholders. Smoots is noted for recognizing that HR is the district’s hub for ensuring that staff feels valued, supported, and empowered. She has also served as an assistant principal in DPS. She brings her experiences as a principal, Human Resources administrator, behavior intervention specialist, school counselor, and a teacher to her new role with DPS.
"I am thrilled to be back with Durham Public Schools and contribute to strengthening our education workforce. I believe that when we invest in and support our educators, we create a ripple effect that transforms entire school communities. My passion lies in building strong teams, fostering a culture of trust, and ensuring every employee feels valued—because when our staff thrives, our students succeed."
T. Chanel Sidbury
Assistant Superintendent, School Support and Continuous Improvement
T. Chanel Sidbury returns to DPS as Assistant Superintendent for School Support and Continuous Improvement. Sidbury’s responsibility will expand Academic Services reach into the schools to provide support to school leaders. In this role, Sidbury will organize all DPS school support and continuous improvement efforts, and work collaboratively with building and district staff to ensure the highest quality of school programming and practice.
She brings experience as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for Hertford County Public Schools, where she supervised all academic areas to include Pre-K, CTE, Federal Programs, EC Student Services, and Professional Learning. She utilized data to improve grade-level proficiency and increase college and workplace readiness results. She also guided district wide instructional decisions using a model of collaboration between central office and building-level staff.
Sidbury has also served as Executive Director of Professional Learning and Student Engagement with the Rowan-Salisbury School System. As a Durham Public Schools administrator, Sidbury has served as Executive Director of K12 Curriculum and Instruction and a Secondary Mathematics Specialist. Sidbury began her career as a mathematics and Algebra I teacher. Her resume of accomplishment also includes curriculum facilitator, mathematics curriculum coach, an education academy program director, a student outreach coordinator, and a career liaison.
"Returning to DPS feels like coming home—a place deeply woven into the fabric of who I am as an educator. My heart is full as I reunite with a community that has profoundly influenced my approach to education. As I reintegrate with the DPS family, my focus is on creating a nurturing environment where every stakeholder feels valued and involved. I am wholeheartedly committed to supporting our students, empowering our educators, and engaging with our community to continue enriching DPS’s legacy of educational excellence," she said.