FREMONT — The Fremont School District has a new face in the corner office after former Superintendent Bill Lander was hired recently to oversee Alton Central School.

Michelle Langa took over Monday as Fremont's new superintendent. The 60-year-old Dover educator brings her experience as superintendent of the Farmington and Middleton school districts from 2006 to 2010 and assistant superintendent in Greenland from 1999 to 2004.

Before taking the Fremont job, Langa said she spent the past two years working on two school improvement grants as a consultant for multiple school districts.

“Michelle's credentials are very, very strong as a superintendent,” said Ida Keane, school board chairman.

Keane said the board was also drawn to Langa because of her background in special education. She was well-received by the public, during a forum to introduce candidates under consideration.

The Fremont School District includes Ellis School, which has 476 students enrolled in preschool to eighth grade, and nearly 230 high school students, most of whom attend Sanborn Regional High School in Kingston on a tuition basis.

Langa said she was attracted to Fremont because of its size.

“I was looking for a smaller district where I could have a direct impact on students. One of my hopes for the Ellis School is to make the school the best in the state. I think we have all the ingredients of a committed staff and a committed board. We have the resources we need, and I'm hopeful we'll have a supportive community,” she said.

Langa will be paid $90,000 under a one-year contract that increases the position from part-time to full-time.

The board advertised for either a part- or full-time superintendent to see what type of candidates would apply. Lander, who left after three years in Fremont, earned $85,000 a year plus benefits as a part-time superintendent working 30 to 32 hours a week, Keane said, so the board decided to make the position full-time for $90,000 — an offer accepted by Langa.

Langa said she's assessing the district, meeting with the leadership team and “scoping out what kinds of work we want to accomplish in our first year. We're taking a look at our financial department and evaluating everything that's necessary for a school to run well.”

jschreiber@newstote.com