Troy’s newest Board of Education member Eva Green is no stranger to the local school system.

Green, raised in Troy City Schools, has two adult sons who followed her footsteps through the system and now has a niece she has full custody of in TCS.

In addition to being familiar with the school system, Green also has plenty of experience being involved.

“I was active in PTO (when my children were in school), and anything they were involved in, I was involved in,” Green said. “I’m a people person, and anything that would help the school, I was there.”

Green looks forward to being active in the school system, now in a different role.

“I think I can really help the board because I’ve had this experience of being a single parent,” she said.

Green was appointed to the school board by the Troy City Council officially Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of John Parker. Parker resigned from the board July 2 due to more demanding work responsibilities. Her first BOE meeting will be Monday, July 19.

City schools Superintendent Linda Felton-Smith, who has known Green to be active as a parent during her children’s school days, said Green was the right choice for the job.

“I have observed her active in a number of church and community activities,” Felton-Smith said. “She will take her role as a board member seriously and will be committed to doing things that will promote learning opportunities for our students.”

Felton-Smith said she believes Green will be a board members willing to work in unity with the other four school leaders.

“Based on my observation of Mrs. Green, she demonstrates her ability to work with others, so she will come in focused on working with the other four members of the board,” Felton-Smith said.

Green seconded Felton-Smith in saying partnership with the current board is a goal.

“I would like to go in there and be in partnership with them and be able to be unified,” she said.

Green said she has her share of ideas for the school system, but she wants to first work to become familiar with what’s already being done.

“I have visions, but I would rather see where they are now. I can’t just come in on a board and jump in with different ideas,” Green said. “Some things I’m not ready to bring forth because I want to see where they are. They may already have my ideas and be working on them.”

Green said she believes one of the strengths of the Troy City Schools system is the quality of teachers, and that’s something she said she hopes to continue to promote while on the board.

“We have great teachers, and we need to continue to have a strong educational program in our schools,” she said. “I just can’t say enough about our system, and that’s what we want to keep.”

Green will serve for the remainder of Parker’s term, set to end May 31, 2011. At that time, the council could choose to reappoint her for another five years.