DIXFIELD — Deborah Alden of Leeds will begin her duties as superintendent of Regional School Unit 10 in November, according to an official.

Alden has more than 15 years of school administrative experience, and more as a special education teacher.

“Over the years, I have been encouraged by superintendents,” she said.

Alden grew up on a dairy farm in Hebron and graduated from Oxford Hills High School in 1978. She earned a bachelor of science degree in business management from the University of Maine and a  master of science degree in special education and educational leadership from Keene State College in New Hampshire.

She succeeds Craig King, who left RSU 10 in August to lead the Gray-New Gloucester district.

“I really want to make an impact on students and to make their lives better and to provide as many experiences as we can to help students reach their potential, and to help communities discover their potential,” she said.

She said she also wants to support the communities in whatever they decide to do regarding the effort by Canton, Carthage, Dixfield and Peru to withdraw from the 12-town district.

She plans to talk with many different people “to get a feel for what people are excited about and their concerns.”

“I’m very excited. I see it as a challenge,” she said.

She is married to Kevin Alden, who works for John F. Murphy Homes in Auburn. She and her husband have two sons, a daughter and two grandsons.