The Board of Education has appointed a Shelton woman as the assistant superintendent for the public school system.

Following a July 30 executive session, at which they discussed hiring a person to fill the position created by the recent resignation of Linda Gejda, school board members voted to hire Jean M. Evans Davila, who would leave her post as a Norwalk school administrator to become Newtown’s assistant schools superintendent.

Ms Gejda left her Newtown job recently to become Stratford’s assistant school superintendent.

Following the school board’s decision, Ms Davila expressed appreciation for her new position, complimenting school board members on their positive tone during the hiring process.

School Board Chair Keith Alexander said board members are very pleased with Ms Davila’s wide range of experience.

Many well-wishers approached Ms Davila to congratulate her on her hiring, complimenting her on her new role in Newtown. Among those people were First Selectman Pat Llodra, who offered her support.

The school system’s assistant superintendent works closely with the superintendent in managing the school system, which includes seven schools.

In January 2014, the school board hired Dr Joseph V Erardi, Jr, as superintendent. Dr Erardi, who started work in Newtown in April 2014, replaced Janet Robinson in that post, who left Newtown to head Stratford’s public school system.

During a break at the school board meeting Thursday evening, when cake was served in Ms Davila’s honor, she expressed satisfaction over having been hired, explaining that it has been one of her goals to rise to the level of an assistant superintendent.

Ms Davila said she hopes to start her Newtown position by mid-August.   

Since September 2008, Ms Davila has worked as an administrator in the Norwalk public schools central office in the areas English language arts and student literacy. Norwalk has 19 public schools.

From November 2005 to September 2008, Ms Davila worked in the central office of the state Department of Education, specializing in the state’s technical high school system in the areas of English and library media.

Ms Davila also has had full-time tenured classroom experience as a high school English teacher in Weston, Farmington, and Bridgeport.

She also has served as a teacher at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport and at Tunxis Community College in Farmington.

At Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, Ms Davila is working on a doctorate degree in the area of instructional leadership. She holds various degrees from Sacred Heart University, The University of Bridgeport, and Housatonic Community College.