The Wiscasset School Department has found its next special services director up the coast. The School Committee Thursday night met in a closed-door session, then re-opened the meeting and voted 4-0 to hire Carrie Kern of Winterport.

“We’re just delighted we were able to find someone so quickly who was so qualified for what we needed. We got lucky,” Chairman Michael Dunn said outside the Superintendent’s Office after the vote. Member Chelsea Haggett was not at the meeting.

Kern was not, either. She’s still working two and a half hours away at Milford School Department as its special education director, Superintendent of Schools Heather Wilmot said. Kern sent her regrets, Wilmot said.

Reached by email afterward, Kern explained what first attracted her to the job in the Wiscasset system. “(It) was the progressive nature of the system and the use of research-based practices to support students. As I researched the district further, I was impressed by the level of process in place so that the effort and resources could be directly spent on improving student outcomes.

“When I interviewed I was even more pleased with Dr. Wilmot and my perception of her as a strong and capacity-building leader. Similarly, it was apparent to me upon interviewing that the district is student-centered, community-supported, and filled with knowledgeable staff,” Kern continued. “All of these factors result in what I think will be a great fit! I love the midcoast area and look forward to calling it home. It will be my pleasure to serve the community of Wiscasset!”

According to information Wilmot provided, Kern has also served as a special education administrator for School Union 76/CSD 13, a special educator there and at Regional School Union 22, and a speech-language pathologist at RSU 21.

Kern has a bachelor of arts in communication sciences and communication disorders from the University of Maine at Orono and a master of science in both from Syracuse University; she has worked nearly 20 years in special education, including functional life skills programs and day treatment programs; resource rooms serving students with varied levels of  communication and functional skills; and experience with Lucy Calkins’ framework for writing instruction out of Columbia University. Wilmot added that Kern has a strong background in programming for students with autism spectrum disorders.

Wilmot said she will have a yearly salary figure to release on Kern after a start date has been determined. Kern had not yet signed the contract but Wilmot expected it to run through the 2017-2018 school year. Special Services Director Jess Yates announced in September she is leaving to become special education director at RSU 13, serving Rockland, Thomaston, South Thomaston and Cushing.

Kern has a daughter, Caroline, 9, son Ben, 13, husband Mike and a dog named Spot. They’ll be moving from Winterport but are not sure yet on a town, Kern said.