Elise Smith is a first grade teacher at Valor. She received her BA in Education from Texas State University and her MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Baylor with a cognate in Reading. She met her husband Aaron while volunteering in Young Life together at Texas State. They have been married for 17 years. After moving to Waco in 2005, she taught first grade in Waco ISD, then first and second grade in Midway ISD and concluded her career as a Dyslexia Interventionist for fifth and sixth grade students. After her first son was born, Elise decided to stay home and raise her 3 boys for the last eleven years. She homeschooled part of that time. She is passionate about education, discipleship and the partnership with parents in the University Model setting at Valor.

Outside of Valor, Elise can be found reading at the local bookshop, walking in her neighborhood, leading a lifegroup or playing with her boys.