Teresa Wood, formerly director of pupil services at Selma Unified School District, has been named assistant superintendent of instruction and personnel.

"I was thrilled to receive the position," she said. "I've just finished my 20th year in the district, so it was quite an honor to receive this position."

Seven other applicants were interviewed for the job, said SUSD Superintendent Mark Sutton.

"I think she's going to do a tremendous job," he said. "She is very familiar with Selma Unified and what we were trying to accomplish here. . . I feel like she's going to be able to come right in and assume the duties of assistant superintendent with no problem."

Wood started on July 18, and apart from her finishing up some old duties for it, that position is now open. Sutton said the district should be interviewing candidates this week.

Wood was born and raised in Bakersfield, and came to the Fresno area when she was 18 to attend California State University, Fresno. She graduated from there in 1984 with a bachelor of arts in liberal studies.

She received her master's in curriculum and instruction from Fresno State in 1989, and her administrative service credential in 1997. From 1984-1987 she worked at a small school district named Burrel Joint Union School in western Fresno County.

In 1987, she received a teaching position in Selma at Eric White Elementary School.

She taught fifth and sixth grade part-time, and was a part-time resource teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School from 1993 to 1995.

Then she became a resource/reading teacher at Indianola Elementary.

In 1996, she became the principal of Garfield Elementary School, and in 2002 she became director of pupil services.

She said becoming assistant superintendent appealed to her because it was a career challenge.

"I think being an assistant superintendent would give me the opportunity to assist with curriculum and instruction and to help make leadership changes that would be beneficial for students and staff members," she said. "I think, collaborating together, we would be focusing on the schools that have been identified as Program Improvement, and what we can do from an instructional perspective to help those schools."

She will also assist with the hiring process for new staff members, and work with two union groups during contract negotiations, the Selma Unified Teachers Association and the Classified School Employees Association.

"I've definitely enjoyed being in the district for the last 20 years," said Wood. "I think of this as a district that I want to complete my career [in] someday, so I'm looking forward to many more years of service at Selma Unified."

July 25, 2007