Former Pawnee ISD Superintendent Doug Arnold was sworn in Thursday as the newest trustee for the Coastal Bend College.

Arnold was appointed by the board last month to fill the unexpired term of former board member Dr. Sam Hogue, who resigned earlier this year to pursue a job opportunity elsewhere in the state.

“We welcome you, and we thank you for accepting this appointment,” Board President Paul Jaure told Arnold after he took the oath of office.

Jaure said Arnold is well qualified to serve on the board and because he lives in the Pawnee area he will help give balance to the board.

Although it is not a written policy, the board of trustees attempts to recruit members from every section of the county when possible to ensure equal representation, Jaure explained.

Arnold thanked the board for its vote of confidence.

“I appreciate the opportunity to participate as a board member of Coastal Bend College,” he said. “All I can promise you is that I will do my best to represent you well and do great things for the community and the students that we serve. I’m happy to be here.”

Arnold comes to the board with an impressive resumé.

He served as a teacher at Pawnee High School from 1966 to 1971 and as Pawnee’s elementary school principal from 1969 to 1971. He served as Pawnee’s high school principal from 1971 to 1972 and as Pawnee superintendent of schools from 1973 to 2004.

Arnold also has served as superintendent of Orange Grove schools and presently serves as a part-time school finance consultant for the Region 2 Education Service Center.

He earned his bachelor of science degree, his master’s degree and his superintendent’s certification from Texas A&I University in Kingsville, now Texas A&M University-Kingville.

He served as director of the Equity Center for six years, as director of the Texas Association of Community Schools for three years and as a member of the Texas Association of School Administrators.

Arnold was honored as Region 2 Superintendent of the Year in 1999, Bee County Conservation Teacher of the Year, and awarded an honorary membership to the Texas Association of School Administrators.

Arnold will serve as board member until May 2010, at which time an election will be held to fill the seat on the board for the following four years.