Wooden selected as EJ Superintendent

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Wooden selected as EJ Superintendent

Wooden selected as EJ Superintendent

The East Jordan Board of Education has offered Susan Wooden the district’s top leadership position pending successful contract negotiations.

At a special board meeting Monday, Board President Kevin Keane reviewed the selection process the district has gone through since mid-May when long-time superintendent Chip Hansen announced he is leaving the district to take a position with the Charlevoix County Community Foundation.

After reviewing all 28 applications for the superintendent position, the board selected five candidates to interview and then selected two applicants to visit their home districts – Susan Wooden of Owosso Public Schools and Craig Carmoney of Bullock Creek Public Schools. After completing the site visits on Thursday, the board opted to hold Monday’s special meeting.

“We had two outstanding candidates in Susan and Craig,” Keane said. “We found both candidates had superb qualifications which made it even more difficult to narrow the selection to one.”

At the site visit to Owosso, the three board members met with teachers, administrators, support staff, board of education and community members, and parents from the region. Wooden was described as a “tireless worker,” someone with a “passion for teaching,” and someone who builds relationships quickly. She was also described as having a ready smile, a “magical personality” and being a “professional educator.” Her skills in finance, bargaining, and curriculum were cited as strengths, among many others.

On Monday, the board unanimously moved to appoint Wooden to the position of superintendent of schools pending the signing of a mutually-agreeable contract. Tentatively, it is expected that Wooden will start in late August or early September.

Wooden has been in the field of education for 22 years, having spent the past nine years as Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for Owosso Public School District. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University and is currently pursuing a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration. Prior to her administrative position, she taught English for 13 years at the middle and high school levels.

Wooden said she and her husband, Russell Todd Wooden, are eager to become residents of East Jordan. “My husband and I are excited to move here, as we have family in northern Michigan and are avid outdoor enthusiasts. With all East Jordan has to offer recreationally, I’m certain that it won’t take long for me to meet area residents and to begin forging lasting relationships with students, parents, businesses, service organizations, and other who support East Jordan Public Schools,” she said.

Wooden noted that East Jordan schools have much to offer students – a beautiful campus, excellent instructional programming, athletics and other extra-curricular activities, all led by a well-respected Board of Education, administration, and staff.

“Together, we will continue capitalizing on instructional and non-instructional programs that contribute to high student achievement and well-rounded citizens,” she said.

Char-Em ISD assisted the district throughout the search process.

EJ_Susan Wooden selected PR_July 26, 2010