Academy School District 20’s assistant superintendent for learning services, Susan Field, was selected by the Board of Education as its interim superintendent during a special meeting on Tuesday.

The board convened virtually to unanimously approve naming an interim replacement for Jinger Haberer, who was ousted in a board vote Thursday after members lost confidence in her leadership.

Board Vice President Susan Payne cited “observations and concerns” shared with her over the past year that led to the board’s course of action, but did not specify those claims.

“I just want to say to our community, our teachers, our staff, our school leaders and all the stakeholders out there, we really want you to know we have heard you,” Payne said after motioning to appoint Field.

On Thursday, Payne alleged Haberer violated the district’s attorney-client privileges by inviting an unauthorized person to a special meeting on May 7, according to previous Gazette reporting.

Three special meetings followed the May 7 meeting last week, including two convened in executive session to discuss Haberer’s performance. The agenda of the third meeting on Thursday remains unpublished on D-20’s website.

Haberer was the district’s superintendent since July 1, 2023.

During Tuesday’s meeting, all board members spoke kindly of Field, who has worked in D-20 for 19 years, and expressed confidence in her ability to lead D-20. Conversely to Haberer, director Derrick Wilburn cited positive reports he claimed to receive about Field’s ability to focus on “academic excellence.”

In addition to her work with D-20, Field is an instructor for the principal preparation program at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, according to her biography on the university’s website. She began working in education 37 years ago in Fairfax, Va., before relocating to Colorado Springs in 1996 to be the principal of Woodmen-Roberts Elementary School.

She began her superintendent of learning services with D-20 in 2015. Field’s responsibilities have included supervising all principals and overseeing all programming across the district, according to her biography.

In 2022, she was awarded the Women in School Leadership award by the American Association of School Administrators, D-20 announced on social media.

Field told the board on Tuesday she was “honored and humbled” to be selected as interim superintendent.

“Academy District 20 is an outstanding school district with a long tradition of excellence, and we will continue to work hard and keep focus on what is best for our students,” Field said.

In a letter sent to D-20 families, Board President Amy Shandy wrote that the district “remains strong, stable and focused” despite the transition of leadership. The letter states Field will serve in the role through the 2026-27 school year.