East Lyme — The Board of Education on Thursday appointed Barbara Senges-Murphy to fill the remainder of a term recently vacated by Christopher Sandford.

Sandford, a board member since 2011, resigned in early January due to new job commitments — he is now headmaster of Woodstock Academy, and the job requires that he live in Woodstock during the week.

Senges-Murphy, an East Lyme resident for more than 20 years, said that while she was sorry Sandford found it necessary to resign, she was very excited to serve on the board.

A 40-year educator who last served as associate superintendent of schools in Middletown, Senges-Murphy said she has worked many years with school boards as an administrator.

“I’m very familiar with the dynamic,” she told the board on Thursday. “I feel that my background in education will make me an effective board member. I think I see both sides clearly.”

The term runs through December 2015.