News Photo by Julie Goldberg The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education meets in this 2018 News file photo.

ALPENA — The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education voted to hire Stephanie Hitchcock as the new principal at Besser Elementary School on Monday.

Hitchcock was previously the F-House Assistant Principal at Alpena High School and has been employed with APS since 2014.

“I’m just thrilled to be part of the Besser family,” Hitchcock said. “I’m just excited and looking forward to it.”

Hitchcock said she’s looking forward to going back to elementary school since she started her career as an elementary classroom teacher. She said it will be important for her to take the time to learn about the staff, students, and culture of the building to develop positive relationships with everyone at Besser.

“I think being a teacher, being in the classroom, being a school counselor, as well as being an administrator, those opportunities have all provided me with experiences that will help me be in this leadership role,” Hitchcock said. “I think I’ve had some amazing mentors throughout my career and I’ve learned from so many people along my path in education that I think that’s going to help me do the work that’s ahead of me.”

Hitchcock said she can’t wait to learn from the students and teachers when the school year begins in August.

“I can’t wait to be in the trenches with them and being able to grow as an administrator right along with the staff and students,” she said. “I’m very enthusiastic about education and about growing and learning from each other.”

The district received more than 30 applications for the position, said Associate Superintendent for Human Resources and Labor Relations Justin Gluesing said.

“Stephanie worked through a rigorous process,” Gluesing said.

Hitchcock is going to begin her duties at Besser in August and is going to assist in the transition at AHS for her replacement. Gluesing said Hitchcock is going to help hire two new teachers at Besser this week.

In other business:

The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education on Monday also:

Voted Gordon Snow as board president, Jackie Krawczak as vice president, and Mike Barnett as treasurer for the 2018-19 school year.

Appointed Barnett as the Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District liaison and Steven Donajkowski as the alternate.

Julie Goldberg can be reached via email at jgoldberg@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.