Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) has hired a new associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction, the district announced Monday.

Shaina Biller will join TCAPS effective August 3, coming to the district from Cadillac Area Public Schools, where she served as director of accountability and assessment and high school principal. Prior to serving in Cadillac, she was the assistant principal of academics for Franklin Public Schools and served as the director of science curriculum for Randolph Public Schools, both in Massachusetts.

“We are pleased to have someone with Shaina’s skills and experience on board to lead the district’s curriculum and instruction team,” says TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner. “Her previous positions included numerous areas of responsibility and expertise. In an educational environment where we are always asked to do more, often with less, and to be ready to change on a dime, that diverse background and strong systems approach will help our district continue to improve and excel.”

Biller takes over the position from former Associate Superintendent Jame McCall, who announced her retirement effective August 1. McCall essentially served dual roles for the district, as she also had a background in special education. “In order to fill that element of Jame’s former position, the district worked in partnership with the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District to fund a TCAPS Executive Director of Special Education position (which was posted and is expected to be filled in the coming weeks),” TCAPS Executive Director of Communications Christine Guitar wrote in an email to The Ticker. “The person selected for the position will be required to hold a special education director’s certification, which allows the ISD to receive reimbursement from the state for the position, and help serve the needs of the community’s children.”

Biller, addressing her new role with TCAPS, says that “now more than ever, education will rely on bringing systems, people and ideas together to develop creative solutions to help our children find success in a world that is changing almost minute by minute” She adds: “I am excited for the opportunity to join Traverse City Area Public Schools and I look forward to working collaboratively to support each of our students now and in the future.”