News Photo by Julie Goldberg Alpena Public Schools Superintendent John VanWagoner works at his desk in this August 2019 News archive photo.

ALPENA — The Alpena Public Schools Board of Education will decide Monday whether to hire longtime educator Susan Wooden as interim superintendent.

Wooden, most recently superintendent of Beaverton Schools near Midland but with ties to Alpena, was interviewed by the Alpena school board today. She was the only applicant interviewed after a second withdrew before today, board President Gordon Snow said in an email to The News.

Snow said no formal action was taken today, but the board will consider hiring Wooden at Monday night’s board meeting.

Current Superintendent John Van Wagoner will leave Alpena July 15 to become superintendent at Traverse City Area Public Schools.

Snow said Wooden may start the week before VanWagoner’s departure.

“There are alot of projects in motion right now, and we want the transition to be as smooth as possible,” Snow said in the email. “We expect Susan will be with us as interim through the middle of September, by which time we hope to have hired a new superintendent.”

Wooden retired as the Beaverton superintendent last year after six years in the position.

Beaverton trustees and teachers said Wooden embraced the community the minute she arrived, the Midland Daily News reported when Wooden announced her retirement.

The newspaper also reported she planned to move to Ossineke with her husband at the time of her retirement.

Wooden has also served as superintendent of the East Jordan Public School District and the director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment for Owosso Public Schools, according to the Clare-Gladwin Regional Education School District. She also taught English at Alpena Community College.