By Kalyn Belsha
kbelsha@stmedianetwork.com
May 21, 2014 3:54PM
AURORA — Three West Aurora School District principals and a school psychologist are being promoted to serve as directors and assistant directors in the district’s central office.
Nick Baughman, Greenman Elementary’s principal, has been recommended to serve as the director of elementary teaching and learning. Fearn Elementary Principal Michael P. Smith was chosen as the new director of human resources.
Herget Middle School Principal Rachel Naleway has been recommended as the assistant director of middle school special education and school psychologist Elisabeth Rausch was selected as the assistant director of elementary special education.
Incoming Superintendent Jeffrey Craig plans to recommend the four administrator appointments to the West Aurora School Board on June 2. Craig said in an email statement that the board already supports his selections.
Each of the educators has been with the district for several years.
Baughman has led Greenman Elementary for the last five years. He is a former assistant principal at Fearn Elementary and has experience as a fourth- and fifth-grade teacher. He holds a master’s degree in education from Concordia University and a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University. He is working on a doctorate in education at Aurora University.
Smith has been Fearn Elementary’s principal for the last four years. He is a former Schneider Elementary principal and a former assistant principal at McCleery Elementary and Smith Elementary. He holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Aurora University and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Judson College. Smith is working on his doctorate in education from Aurora University.
Naleway has led Herget Middle School for the last four years. She is a former assistant principal at Herget and has also coordinated middle school interventions and worked as a school psychologist in West Aurora. She holds a master’s degree in educational administration from Northern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in health studies and psychology from Eastern Illinois University.
Rausch has worked as a school psychologist in West Aurora for the last 14 years at Smith Elementary, Nicholson Elementary and West Aurora High School. She also has chaired the district’s psychology department. Rausch holds a master’s degree in school psychology from Miami University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Purdue University.