Twin Rivers School board recently held a special meeting to replace former board member Donna-Sue Ashcraft Fincher.
Fincher was a long-time member of the board holding her position for 16 years. She resigned her role as a board member May 3, after starting her own restaurant in the Qulin area, according to school officials.
“We had (those interested) sign up here with their phone number and address and then they were required to write a letter of intent or interest and why they wanted to be on the board,” said Rhonda Sentell, Twin Rivers Board of Education secretary.
Sentell went on to explain the position was posted for the required number of days in the newspaper, as well as posted on the doors in the school and at the other campuses.
Board president, Keith Parker said, “We accepted letters of interest, then appointed based off of those.”
The board voted unanimously May 31 to award the position to Jenny Hester.
Those who also sought the position were Brandon Vancil and Gina Blue.
During the upcoming board meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 16, Hester will be sworn into her new role.
Hester and her husband both grew up in the area and have two children currently attending Twin Rivers.
“I was a teacher for 15 years and I stopped teaching to pursue other business opportunities,” said Hester. “I taught 13 of those years at Twin Rivers, so the school, teachers and students have always been near and dear to me. When the recent board opening came about, I just felt like the timing was right for me to help in a different capacity.”