Mollie Smith grew up in a family with a military background and lived in such places as Syracuse, NY, Washington, D.C., Grand Haven, MI, Governors Island, NY, Phoenix, AZ, and now Philadelphia. She began her teaching career with Teach for America's 2007 Philadelphia Corps. During her corps years, she taught Environmental Science, Chemistry and Watersheds at Maritime Academy Charter High School. She received her B.A. in Interpersonal Communication and Women's Studies at Alma College (Michigan) in 2007. She received her Master’s in Education at UPENN's Graduate School of Education in 2009. Mollie now serves as the 9th grade physics teacher for KIPP DuBois Collegiate Academy.