Middle School Dean Named Assistant Principal Of McCleery Elementary School In Aurora

AURORA, IL — The dean of students at Washington Middle School made the switch to McCleery Elementary School, where she'll serve as assistant principal.

The West Aurora School District 129 Board of Education approved Sarah Hayes for the role during the June 16 regular meeting.

"I am deeply grateful to Dr. Smith and the board of education for this incredible opportunity," Hayes said in a statement. "West Aurora has played a meaningful role in my journey and I am honored to continue serving this wonderful community in my new role at McCleery Elementary."

Hayes brings more than a decade of experience in public education to her new position, including 10 years as a bilingual language arts and social studies teacher in Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205. While at Washington Middle School, Hayes led student behavior initiatives and ensured compliance with student support services.

In addition to her instructional experience, Hayes has held leadership roles on school and district-wide committees, including curriculum development, middle school schedule redesign and school improvement planning. District officials said she is trained in restorative and trauma-informed practices and has coordinated multilingual learner assessments and data use for instruction improvement.

Hayes has a bachelor's degree in secondary education from DePaul University, a master's degree in teacher leadership from Elmhurst College, and a second master's in educational leadership from Aurora University.