The four remaining members selected Michelle Gonzalez to fill the rest of Shelley Thompson’s term on the Englewood School Board.

Gonzalez is a third-generation Coloradan. She was among the eight residents who applied to fill the vacancy created when Thompson resigned March 31 because she and her family moved out of the district.

The newly appointed board member will be sworn in during the May 19 school board meeting. She will serve on the board until the term expires in November. At that time, she could become a candidate to serve a full four-year term on the school board.

Heather Hunt, school board president, said it was hard to pick one person because of the strength of all the residents who applied to fill the vacancy.

She said no one factor tipped the scales in favor or Gonzalez. She said the board members simply agreed Gonzalez was the best fit at this time.

“However, we appreciate all the interest shown by those who applied to fill the vacancy,” Hunt said. “These people showed their interest in our school district and willingness to serve on the board. So, I hope some or all of them will file as candidates for the board in the November election.”

In November, Englewood residents will be asked to choose three school board members as the terms of Heather Hunt, Scott Gorsky and the position Gonzalez was appointed to fill expire.

Neither of the incumbents have indicated whether or not they will seek second terms.

Gonzalez is an Englewood native and she is a 1984 Englewood High School graduate.

She took some college courses while working on the Auraria Campus, has been a state employee for the last 18 years and the last 10 years has worked in the human resources department of the Colorado Department of Transportation.

She and her husband have two children, Sydni, a fifth-grader, and Jamison, a third grader, who attend Englewood schools.

She said she feels she brings fresh ideas and a new perspective to the board.

“I tend to think outside the box but I am a team player and I try to treat people the way I want to be treated,” she said. “I applied to serve on the school board because I love children and I really care about our schools and our community.”

She said she is excited to become a member of the school board. She said she feels it is a great opportunity to have her voice heard and have a positive impact on the school community.

“It is exciting and it will be a challenge,” she said. “But I feel I am ready to start and eager to meet the next challenge head on.”