Northern Michigan’s largest school district is one step closer to hiring a new superintendent. On Monday, the board for Traverse City Area Public Schools voted unanimously for Ann Cardon to proceed to the final round.
Cardon has 10 years of superintendent experience and is the current head of St. Joseph Public Schools downstate.
"I like the fact that she’s basically done everything, teacher, principal, leader and she’s been involved with finance and with unions," TCAPS Board Member Doris Ellery says.
Other board members pointed out that Cardon has experience working directly with state legislators and was highly respected by all her references.
"I felt like she was a very genuine person, approachable," board member Jeff Leonhardt says.
The board had originally planned to bring back at least two candidates for the final round, but after a majority voted to go with one front runner, that plan shifted to one candidate. Cardon will be invited to tour the district to see if she's a good fit May 29.
Twenty-four candidates applied to the superintendent position, and six candidates were interviewed by the board on Saturday. Board President Sue Kelly says if it does not work out with Cardon, they can always go back to the final pool of candidates, reopen the search or appoint an interim superintendent.
Current TCAPS Superintendent Paul Soma is retiring this summer.
