Mrs. Rhonda Dandrea Smith of Hahira, Ga. is announces the engagement of her daughter, Kristen Nicole Smith, to James Frederick Ross, son of Mark and Vickie Ross of Niceville, Fla. Smith is also the daughter of Ashley Smith of Valdosta.

A fall wedding is planned for October 20, 2012 at Horse Creek Winery in Nashville, Ga.

The bride-elect graduated from Valdosta High School and received bachelors’ degrees in marketing and early childhood education from Valdosta State University and a master’s degree in education from Walden University.

Walton County schools employ her as a third grade teacher at Van R. Butler Elementary. Her maternal grandparents are Peter and Laverne Dandrea of Valdosta, and paternal grandparents are Velma Smith and the late Maitland Smith of Homerville, Ga.

The prospective groom graduated from Niceville High School and received bachelors’ degrees in business administration and marketing from Methodist University in Fayetteville, N.C., and a masters’ in education leadership from American College of Education.

He is employed by Walton County Schools as assistant principal in training at South Walton High School.

He is the grandson of the late Tollie and Lona Mae Ross of Tryon, N.C. and the late Victor and Elieen Abrams of Riverside County, Calif.