POLAND — The RSU 16 School Committee on Monday signed Assistant Superintendent Tina Meserve to a two-year contract as superintendent, effective July 1.

She will succeed Michael Wilhelm.

Meserve, of Livermore, was chosen from a field of nine applicants. She was named assistant superintendent last August.

“Tina stands out for her enthusiasm,” committee Chairwoman Mary Ella Jones said. “We’ve been impressed by her performance to date, her expertise in curriculum is considerable.”

Meserve has been on board this past fall and winter as RSU 16 has undertaken major steps in developing a strategic plan, creating a vision for the district’s direction over the next five years.

“This year we’ve made significant progress toward a real unified district, forming stronger relations with the towns, having everybody invested in their schools,” Meserve said.

She said she intends to build on the initiatives begun this year under the direction of Wilhelm.

“The district has been very fortunate to have had an experienced, retired, superintendent step in at a difficult moment,”Meserve said.

Wilhelm, who had retired in 2011 after spending 43 years in education, was hired as interim superintendent in March 2012, after Dennis Duquette was placed on a leave of absence.

“I think she’ll do a great job. I’ve been impressed with how she’s handled her duties as assistant superintendent,” Wilhelm said.

A Maine native, Meserve graduated from Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, earned her undergraduate degree, and holds a master’s degree in literacy from the University of Maine in Orono.

She began her educational career as a grades K through 2 teacher at Greene Central School, then served the towns of Turner, Leeds and Greene for 10 years as SAD 52’s literacy specialist. For four years prior to coming to RSU 16, she was curriculum coordinator for the Augusta school system.