Trustees with the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD approved a new chief financial officer at their meeting Monday night. But after months of searching and interviewing, the applause came for a familiar face.

DaiAnn Mooney joined the district as a staff accountant in 1996 and went on to serve as director of budget and accounting, and director of finance. She has also filled in as interim chief financial officer on two separate occasions, including for the past four months since former CFO Elaine Cogburn's move to Mansfield ISD.

"She's done the job, she's performed very, very well and we have the highest confidence she will continue that as the official CFO," Superintendent Robin Ryan said.

Mooney is a mother of two — a 7-year-old daughter in second grade at Timberline Elementary School and a 12-year-old son in sixth grade at Cross Timbers Middle School — and her husband, Darren, works as a teacher and coach at Cross Timbers. Service to a school district is in her blood, she said, with a father who worked for a school district and a grandfather who served as a superintendent. And after working nearly her entire adult life at GCISD after graduating from Texas Tech University, Mooney said she is excited to take the top spot.

"This is home to me and this is my family, and I'm just excited for the challenge," she said. "I'm looking forward to my new role."

With the announcement last night, Mooney begins her official CFO duties today. The greatest challenge facing her will be maintaining the district's successes in the face of ever-decreasing revenue, she said, but there are more time sensitive needs to be addressed.

"First thing on my agenda will be to hire someone to take my place," she said.