Marjorie Guillen-Melendez, standing with her two children, Anthony, 10, and Gabriella, 4, is sworn as an Osceola County School Board member by Osceola County Commissioner John Quiñones Tuesday.

She never raised her hand for the job. But Marjorie Guillen-Melendez answered the call of duty to fill her husband Julius' Osceola County School Board seat he had to temporarily vacate after receiving military orders to report to Kuwait.

Receiving the blessing of Osceola County leaders and a nod from Gov. Charlie Crist, she was sworn in before the School Board meeting Tuesday.

“Thank you all for your support,” she said after the swearing in ceremony led by Osceola County Commissioner John Quiñones. “I'm truly honored to be given this opportunity.”

Crist last week announced the appointment of Guillen-Melendez, 33, after her husband, a combat medical specialist in the Army National Guard, announced in October that he was being shipped overseas. According to the governor's office, she was the only applicant for the seat.

“Marjorie is well-equipped to serve the educational needs of her district and community,” Crist stated in a press release. “I am confident she will fill her husband’s vacancy with the same level of dedication and integrity he consistently displayed and will continue to contribute during his heroic service in Kuwait.”

Guillen-Melendez, a bill review supervisor for CorVel Corp. in Lake Mary, and mother of two – soon to be three as she is nine weeks pregnant and due in September – said when her husband first learned he was being deployed, he requested that she apply for the seat.

“I never suggested myself,” she said. “I didn't volunteer.”

It certainly wasn't a decision that came quickly, she said.

“At first, I was stumped,” she said on whether to accept the call to duty.

But after some persuading from her husband, who stressed that they both shared the same ideals and had so much in common, she agreed. Plus, seeing the sacrifice her husband was making by going to Kuwait, she decided she could make a sacrifice as well.

“After some consideration, I said, 'Why not,'” Guillen-Melendez said. Both the Osceola County Commission and the School Board backed her wholeheartedly.

“She’s qualified,” Quiñones said. “We looked at her qualifications and saw she had a background to fulfill the duties and that was important.”

Guillen-Melendez, who has a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in psychology, previously worked in New York in child protective services. She also is a member of the Parent Teacher Organization for Partin Settlement Elementary School, where her two children — Anthony, 10, and Gabriella, 4 — attend. She's also hoping to teach elementary school one day, she said.

“Education to me is essential. It’s fundamental,” she said. “Education is so very important to the development of our community.”

As far as any certain issues she wants to tackle, she said it was a little premature.

“I just want to sit down and absorb as much as I can,” she said.

She'll have access to her husband through the Internet to discuss any School Board business, she said. Currently stationed in Ft. Hood, Texas, he's expected to leave for Kuwait in early March. He was elected to the board in 2008.

“I think Marjorie will do wonderful,” School Board member Jay Wheeler said. “She brings a mom's perspective. It's always good to bring in fresh blood with new ideas.”

Julius Melendez is expected to return in January of 2011, when he'll be returned to his seat.

“I'm just keeping it warm,” Guillen-Melendez said.