Jeff Smith (born December 9, 1973) is an American politician who served as a member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 4th district from 2007 until 2009. His district covered the western portion of the City of St. Louis. Prior to his political career, Smith co-founded Confluence Academies, a group of urban charter schools in St. Louis that now enroll nearly 4,000 students. He also authored a successful and critically acclaimed book chronicling the injustices faced by those incarcerated, Mr. Smith Goes to Prison. excerpted by Politico. Smith continues his community work as the executive vice president of community engagement and policy at Concordance Academy, a St. Louis-based nonprofit that provides comprehensive re-entry services to individuals returning to the community after prison. Early life and education Smith was raised in the St. Louis suburb of Olivette, Missouri and graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in African-American Studies and political science. He received his MA and PhD in political science from Washington University in St. Louis. Career Academics Smith has taught as an adjunct and visiting professor at Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and Dartmouth College and won the 2002 Washington University in St. Louis Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence. During his time at Dartmouth, he dated one of his students, future political strategist Lis Smith. In 2001, Smith co-founded the Confluence Academy, a charter school in North St. Louis focusing on math and science education. 2004 U.S. House campaign In 2004, Smith was a candidate in the crowded Democratic primary election for the U.S. House of Representatives to replace retiring Congressman Dick Gephardt. Beginning as an unknown, Smith finished second in the ten-candidate field, narrowly losing to Russ Carnahan. His campaign was widely recognized as an example of successful grassroots organizing. It was the subject of the documentary film Can Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore?, which won the 2006 audience choice award at the Silverdocs film festival. In February 2007, the documentary aired on the award-winning PBS series Independent Lens. Criminal conviction In the primary approach to the 2004 congressional election, a representative, unknown at the time to be working for a group called Voters for Truth, approached members of Smith's campaign staff, offering to create and send out campaign mail regarding opponent Russ Carnahan's