'Everybody’s Grandma,' Health Start Pioneer Roxie T. Smith Turns 100

Roxie T. Smith holding a bouquet in a wheelchair, adjacent to a black and white portrait of her as a young woman.

A pioneering force and invaluable member of the Saint Paul Public Schools community, Dr. Roxie T. Smith has had a profound and lasting impact on thousands of students, their families and her many colleagues. As a staff member at the Health Start Clinic at Mechanic Arts, Como Park and Central high schools, Mrs. Smith played a critical role in some of the first school-based clinics in the nation. On October 13, 2025, she turns 100.

The first clinic opened in 1973 at Mechanic Arts High School, and the program quickly gained national acclaim for its efforts to provide comprehensive healthcare and family planning services to high school students. Mrs. Smith created a supportive and nurturing environment for more than 8,000 students, offering not only healthcare and comfort but also consistent guidance.

“She was everybody’s grandma,” remembers Mrs. Smith’s colleague Rose Farmer. Working in the maternal infant care clinic, “she was there for the kids, would rock babies, had connections in the community, and was a very nurturing, supportive person. She modeled good behavior, and respected and treated everyone with kindness.”

Mrs. Smith served as an especially important role model for female students of color. The program’s success was evident in a significant drop in student births at the participating schools, with births to high school students reportedly declining by more than 55% during her tenure.

Even as the program faced financial struggles and ideological opposition in the 1980s, Mrs. Smith's commitment to the students remained unwavering. Her legacy is one of compassion, dedication, and a deep belief in the well-being and potential of every student she served.

Last month, Mrs. Smith was honored with a centenarian brick at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza. “That’s what life is about, loving one another,” she said at the ceremony.

Thank you, Roxie, and happy birthday to you!

Learn more about SPPS's school-based health clinics, now called Minnesota Community Care.