BATAVIA – JoAnne Smith said she is excited to take the reins as the new principal of Batavia High School.

The Batavia School District 101 board on Tuesday approved Smith's appointment. Smith will replace principal Lisa Hichens, who will take the helm as the district’s next superintendent when Superintendent Jack Barshinger retires at the end of June.

For the past two years, Smith has served as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction at Batavia High School. She has worked in the district for 17 years.

"The opportunity to lead the building is very exciting, and I'm thrilled to have that opportunity," said Smith, 38, of Elburn. Improving student achievement is one of her first goals, she said.

Hichens will help her make the transition, Smith said. Hichens has been Batavia High School’s principal since 2009, and she first joined the district in 1994 as a math teacher at Batavia High School.

Batavia School Board members on Tuesday also approved the appointment of a new assistant superintendent of human resources. Steve Pearce, a principal from Schaumburg School District 54, will start in the position July 1. He will replace Associate Superintendent Greg Romaneck, who is retiring at the end of the school year after seven years with the district and 33 years in education.

“I’m very excited about serving Batavia Public Schools in this capacity,” Pearce said in a news release. “I consider it an honor to work for a school district with such a great reputation, and I look forward to collaborating with the staff and the community to increase student achievement for all of the students we serve."