A Lawrence High School graduate who is now an art critic at the New York Times will be the keynote speaker Sept. 5 at the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s Community Education Breakfast.

Roberta Smith, LHS Class of 1965, is co-chief art critic at the Times and a frequent lecturer on contemporary art, art criticism and art education. She will speak about the importance of visual arts in prekindergarten through high school education.

Smith was born in New York City and raised in Lawrence. After high school, she studied at Grinnell College in Iowa and began her career in art as an intern at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., followed by a fellowship at the Whitney Museum.

She returned to New York in 1971 and began writing for the Times in 1986. Before joining the Times, she was an art critic for the Village Voice and wrote reviews for art magazines including Arts, Artforum and Art in America.

Susan Esau, executive director of the foundation, said proceeds from the breakfast help support early childhood education programs in the district, innovative teaching and learning opportunities, recognition of outstanding educators, and encouragement of student achievement in the Lawrence district.

The breakfast will be at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 5.