The Orange Unified School District’s Board of Trustees has appointed Gunn Marie Hansen as interim superintendent to replace retired schools chief Michael Christensen.
Hansen, who previously worked as Orange Unified’s deputy superintendent of educational services, will serve as head of the 28,500-student district while a permanent replacement is found. 
“Dr. Hansen is extremely knowledgeable and has demonstrated great leadership as the deputy superintendent,” School Board President Rick Ledesma said in a news release.
Hansen joined Orange Unified seven years ago. Over the past 25 years, she has served as an elementary and secondary teacher, principal and district administrator. In 2014, she was named California Central Office Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators.
The school board also approved last week the hiring of the firm Leadership Associates to conduct an extensive search for a permanent superintendent. The search process will begin immediately, district officials said.
“Dr. Hansen will lend strength to the superintendent search process by providing confidence as we go through and consider who will be the next superintendent,” said Board Member Tim Surridge in a statement.