About »

Meet Ms. Deborah Smith-Gregory
New Jersey State ACT-SO Chairperson

Deborah is a life member of the Newark Branch NAACP and for the past 20 years has served as the chairperson of the Newark Afro Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Program.  During her tenure, each year Newark students have earned national medals in an array of categories including math, architecture, music, art and filmmaking. In addition to being the Newark ACT-SO chairperson, she has also served as the chairperson of the New Jersey State ACT-SO Program. 

Deborah has been in the Newark Public Schools District for the past 35 years as a high school educator and activities advisor. In addition to her primary career as an educator, Deborah has also worked as a journalist and editor of the New Jersey Afro-American Newspaper from 1984-1989. After leaving the Afro, she became the founding editor of the New Jersey Perspectus News Magazine from 1989-1994. 

Raised in the city of Newark and a proud product of the Newark Public Schools, she graduated from Seton Hall University and has continued her education in postgraduate studies at Montclair State University.

Deborah is a proud Newark resident, even more proud of her two sons, two stepsons, stepdaughter, and four grandchildren.  She is a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark.  

“My passion is being a committed advocate for our youth.  They are a direct reflection of our community both the positive and negative. We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”

The New Jersey ACT-SO Committee

Publicity Chairperson
Shaun Adams

Governor's Awards Chairperson
Sandy Butts

Fundraising Chairperson
Donovan Coney

Judges Chairperson
Darnell Davis

Competition Chairpersons
Deborah Gregory & Darnell Davis

Awards Ceremony Chairperson
Arthur Taylor