Principal's Message

Dear Stone Elementary Families,

Welcome to another wonderful year at Stone Elementary! It is a true privilege to serve as the principal of Stone and to be part of the Addison community. After nearly two decades serving as a school administrator, I can honestly say that I continue to love what I do and feel incredibly fortunate to spend my career working alongside students, families, and educators.

My journey in education began as a paraeducator before I became an elementary classroom teacher and eventually moved into school administration. Those experiences continue to shape who I am as an educational leader. I believe strongly that the best schools are built on relationships. Relationships where students feel known and valued, families feel welcomed and heard, and teachers feel supported, trusted, and empowered to do their very best work.

One of my greatest priorities at Stone is building those strong relationships. You will often see me greeting students and families at arrival and dismissal, visiting classrooms, joining students at lunch and recess, and simply being present throughout our school. I believe being visible and accessible matters, and I want every student and family to know that I am here for them.

While my professional life has been centered around education, my greatest source of pride is my family. My wife, Leslie, and I have two college-age children, Lily and Jack. Lily is pursuing a law degree with plans to practice water law, while Jack is pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. Leslie is also deeply involved in education and our community. She works for Elgin School District U-46 and is an active volunteer in our home school community in Yorkville, where she currently serves as vice president of the Yorkville School District 115 Board of Education. Our family has always believed in the importance of giving back to the communities we call home.

I am excited about the years ahead at Stone Elementary. I am committed to continuing to learn, grow, and work alongside our incredible staff to provide our students with a school experience where they are challenged academically, supported socially and emotionally, and encouraged to discover their strengths and passions. Most importantly, I want Stone to continue to be a place where every child knows they belong, every family feels connected, and every staff member feels valued. I look forward to getting to know more of you and to the many conversations, celebrations, challenges, and successes we will share together.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as your principal and look forward to many years of learning and growing together.

Warmly,

Dave Smogor
Principal
Stone Elementary School