Her brother became the wheat breeder Hugh Pye and her father, who had been married before, was the headteacher at Christ Church Grammar School in Geelong.

[4] Smyth chose Pye as one of his first recruits to lecture the college's students who were studying for an Infant Teachers' Certificate.

[3] Interest was high and Pye demonstrated teaching methods at the Australian Exhibition of Women's Work in Melbourne in 1907.

[3] The college organised summer schools at Portsea at which Pye, Smyth and the Director of Education Frank Tate all assisted.

[3] John Smyth had noted that her original introductions included the synergy she created by linking up the work of not only the school and the parents but also that of the community.