CAPE ELIZABETH — Ken Murphy, a former superintendent of Yarmouth schools, will serve as the town’s interim superintendent.

Murphy’s nomination was approved by the School Board on Tuesday. Murphy will serve from Jan. 1 through the end of the school year.

“He brings an acute understanding of state and local issues that affect the teachers and students here in southern Maine,” board Chairwoman Rebecca Millett said in a statement. “His breadth of knowledge in these areas will allow the district to move forward, even as we take the time to search for a permanent superintendent for Cape Elizabeth.”

Murphy will replace Alan Hawkins, who announced his retirement this fall.

Murphy retired as Yarmouth’s superintendent last year, after 18 years in that post. His support of a new curriculum design and assessment system, the advancement of a new teacher evaluation process and work toward expanding the school day and year were among Murphy’s accomplishments in Yarmouth that the School Board cited.