Our Team

James D. Smith, Co-Founder & President

James is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Iraq from 2003–2004 and assisted in relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. After his military service, he dedicated twelve years to the Smyrna Fire Department (2006–2018), where he served as both a paramedic and lieutenant, overseeing critical incidents, station operations, and personnel.

In addition to his public service, James owned and operated Neighbors Feed & Seed Supply Co., a local organic garden and farm supply business. It was during this time, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, that he began teaching carpentry to young people while schools were closed. The experience revealed the profound impact hands-on learning could have on children’s confidence and growth. Inspired to continue, James co-founded KOS, Inc. to bring creative, skill-based education to the broader community.

James brings to KOS not only his technical expertise and leadership skills, but also a deep commitment to service, resilience, and empowering the next generation.

About Us
A husband-and-wife team, James and Elaine founded Knowledge of Self (KOS), Inc. in the spring of 2021 with the belief that children learn best when given hands-on opportunities to explore their creativity and build real-world skills.

Their very first school break camp, held in the fall of 2021, welcomed just 12 students and introduced them to a diverse curriculum that included carpentry, theatre, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), and visual arts. The camp was an immediate success, igniting curiosity and confidence in its participants while showing families the value of experiential learning.

Since then, the KOS curriculum has continued to grow in response to the needs and interests of the community. Today, students can explore sewing, music, Spanish, language arts, yoga, financial literacy, and more—each designed to foster creativity, problem-solving, and self-confidence.

Together, James and Elaine have built KOS into a vibrant space for discovery, collaboration, and personal growth. Their vision is to inspire the next generation to explore their passions, take pride in their abilities, and carry forward the confidence that comes from learning by doing.

Elaine Friend, Co-Founder & Vice President

Elaine is an educator with a passion for helping children discover their voices and build confidence through the arts. Before co-founding KOS, she traveled the country with Missoula Children’s Theatre, teaching and directing youth productions in communities nationwide. Through this work, she witnessed firsthand how creative expression empowers young people to connect, collaborate, and shine.

Her vision for KOS was rooted in providing a safe, inspiring space where children could explore both practical and creative skills. Since 2021, Elaine has helped design and expand the KOS curriculum to include theatre, visual arts, music, sewing, yoga, and more. She is dedicated to nurturing creativity while ensuring every child feels valued and capable of achieving success.

Together with her husband James, Elaine has built KOS into a thriving community resource where children learn not only new skills but also the confidence to believe in themselves.

Kevin Howard, STEM Director

Kevin Howard, a proud father of two young daughters, has called Smyrna home for over two decades. As an aerospace engineer, STEM curriculum architect, and maker space advisor, he brings a diverse and innovative skill set to KOS.

With a notable 15-year career in the Atlanta region, Kevin has personally guided more than twenty thousand students through hands-on learning experiences. His programs have introduced young people to the excitement of engineering, robotics, and scientific discovery, helping them see themselves as future innovators.

As STEM Director at KOS, Kevin continues this mission by crafting immersive programs that ignite curiosity, nurture creativity, and instill a lifelong passion for science and engineering. His work ensures that every student not only gains practical skills but also the confidence to solve problems, explore boldly, and dream big.