Allen ISD trustees have named Scott Niven of Red Oak ISD the sole finalist for the district's open superintendent post. Scott Niven[/caption] The Allen ISD Board of Trustees on Monday announced the decision to consider the Red Oak superintendent, who previously served as superintendent of Liberty-Eylau ISD near Texarkana, as its sole finalist. The board plans to vote on Niven's contract Nov. 28. Allen ISD has been searching for a new superintendent since Lance Hindt announced in July he would leave for the Katy ISD superintendent job. Jenny Preston has served as interim superintendent in the meantime. "The Board is very excited to welcome Dr. Niven and his family to Allen,” said Louise Master, president of the Allen ISD Board of Trustees, in a district statement. “He is a respected educator and his relationship building skills as well as his innovative ideas and energetic nature will be a great fit for Allen." Niven has served as Red Oak superintendent 45 miles south of Allen since 2007. His tenure was marked by a "strong college- and career-based program," according to a Red Oak ISD release, including forming a partnership with Texas State Technical College and expanding the number of dual-credit hours available from six to 160 hours. “We greatly appreciate the leadership Dr. Niven has provided for our district the past ten years," Henry Lozano, Red Oak ISD board president, said in the statement. "He has moved us forward academically and has been instrumental in guiding our district toward success in all academic and elective areas. His continuous focus on making decisions based upon what is best for our students is a core value shared throughout the district. Dr. Niven’s dedication to academic excellence is one of his greatest qualities." Niven earned his doctorate in education in 2012 from Texas A&M University-Commerce. Niven also has a master's degree in education from Texas A&M University-Texarkana and an undergraduate degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Arkansas. He is a certified public accountant.