Susan DeVenny, who was chairwoman of the committee searching for a new director before she stepped down from the board this summer, will replace interim director Rita Paul.

Paul will return to her job as deputy director.

She had replaced Marie-Louise Ramsdale, who left her $83,430-a-year job earlier this year when she had her second child.

The board has not set DeVenny's salary or her start date, said Frank Holleman, board vice chairman, who was appointed by Democratic former Gov. Jim Hodges.

DeVenny, also a Hodges appointee, stepped down from her position shortly after the search committee disbanded this summer.

Sanford, a Republican, had asked the committee to end its search so he would have more time to name appointees to the 22-member board before an executive director was hired.

Sanford controls 10 of the statewide board's seats.

So far, he has replaced six of Hodges' appointees.

The board never re-established the search committee and voted unanimously to name DeVenny, who was Sanford's recommendation, as the new director, Holleman said.

DeVenny of Lancaster is the former assistant vice president of human resources at Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Co. She has four children and is founder of Parents for Public Schools in South Carolina.

She is a graduate of Furman University and the University of Georgia, where she received a master's degree in education.

"She fully understands the First Steps operation ... as well as early childhood development," Holleman said.

With local First Steps boards established in every county, the program works to ensure children are healthy and ready to start first grade.

The state's $5.3 billion budget included $18.5 million in funding for First Steps this year.

That's about half what agency had to spend this past year.

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