About Dee — The Teacher In Sneakers

Hi, I'm Dee. NJ teacher, sneakerhead, coach, and the proof that teachers really do have lives.

I'm D'Aisha Smith — a middle school Humanities teacher in New Jersey who teaches Social Studies and ELA across grades 5 through 8. But if you've been following along on TikTok or Instagram, you already know I'm way more than what happens inside my classroom.

I coach cheerleading, girls basketball, and 14U softball. I advise the school yearbook. I care deeply about making sure every kid in my room sees themselves in the history we study — especially the stories that don't always make the textbook.

What This Brand Is Really About

TheTeacherInSneakers exists because I got tired of the story that teachers have to choose between being great at their job and actually enjoying their life. I don't accept that. And I don't think you should either.

This brand is for the teacher who stays up too late grading papers but also stayed up researching flights. Who wears a blazer to parent conferences and fresh kicks on casual Friday. Who loves their students fiercely and loves themselves just as fiercely. That's the energy here. Always.

My Content Pillars

• Style & Sneakers — Real outfits for real teachers. Comfort, style, and always a fresh pair of kicks.

• Teacher Life — Classroom resources, honest takes on the profession, and tools that actually work for Gen Z and Gen Alpha students.

• Lifestyle — Travel, wellness, dating, wealth-building, and everything that happens when you log off the school portal.

• TPT Resources — Classroom-tested, student-approved resources for ELA and Social Studies. Including my Citing Evidence Biography Series.

A Little More About Me

I'm a triple negative breast cancer survivor. I carry the BRCA1 genetic mutation, and I went through chemotherapy before completing egg freezing. I share this not for sympathy, but because my health journey fundamentally changed how I live — with urgency, with intention, and without apology.

I believe in community, diversity, and the power of representation in the classroom. I believe teachers deserve support, rest, and a village. And I believe the best version of you shows up when you stop shrinking yourself to fit someone else's idea of what a teacher should look like.

What You'll Find Here

• Classroom resources built for how students actually learn today

• Style inspo and affiliate picks that fit a teacher's real life and budget

• Honest blog posts about teaching, traveling, healing, and growing

• A community that sees you — the whole you, not just the teacher version

I'm so glad you found this corner of the internet. Stick around. Take what you need. And know that you belong here — sneakers, lesson plans, and all.

💜 — Dee