Dr. Pete Clabough

I have had the privilege of serving as the principal at Smith Elementary School for over a decade now, steadfast in supporting our vision of embracing the curiosity, complexity, and joy of learning. At Smith, we prioritize positive student-teacher relationships, view mistakes as learning opportunities, provide challenging learning experiences, and prioritize our students' social and emotional growth.

My journey in education began as a high school biology teacher in Stillman Valley, IL, where I also coached football and wrestling. I later served as a science teacher and administrator at an alternative high school here in Aurora. Transitioning to the West Aurora School District, I spent time as the assistant principal at Washington Middle School while earning a Doctorate of Education from Aurora University. Moving into my current role at Smith Elementary School has been a deeply fulfilling career shift, where each day brings joy as I interact with students, staff, and families.

I wholeheartedly believe in every child's potential and remain committed to collaborating with our school community to maintain a safe learning environment that maximizes student dialogue and collaboration.

Outside of Smith, I enjoy spending time with my family, attending my children's sporting events, and fishing.

I eagerly anticipate another rewarding year as principal of Smith School and am excited to witness our students' continued academic and social-emotional growth.

MS. Brianna Heisler

It is an honor to join the Smith Elementary community as your assistant principal and to be part of such a supportive and student-centered environment. Most recently, I served as the assistant principal at Goodwin Elementary School, where I had the privilege of working alongside dedicated educators and incredible students.

I bring ten years of experience in education to this role, including time as a fifth-grade teacher, K–2 resource teacher, and case manager in Batavia Public School District 101. During that time, I developed differentiated instructional content, implemented social-emotional learning curricula, and created individualized plans to help students reach their full potential. My leadership background includes serving on the student services leadership team, mentoring new teachers, and presenting professional learning sessions for staff.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in special education and elementary education, as well as a Master of Arts in educational leadership—both from Aurora University.

I am excited to support and inspire our students and staff while helping to foster a nurturing, inclusive, and innovative learning environment at Smith Elementary. I look forward to partnering with families to make this a great year!