School Superintendent Tenders Resignation Effective June 2027

School Superintendent Dr. E. Xiomara Herman announced today (6/26/26) in an email to the Amherst Public Schools community that she will resign effective June 30, 2027. She had informed the school committee of her decision in an executive session the previous day,

Until next June, she pledged to remain “fully committed to serving our students, staff, families and communities.” She added that her work is far from finished and that her focus “remains exactly where it has always been—on moving our districts forward.”

Herman outlined an ambitious agenda for the coming school year and emphasized her commitment to working with faculty, staff, and families to bring it to fruition.

Herman became superintendent on July 1, 2024, taking over a district roiled by a bullying scandal at Amherst Middle School that implicated administrators, staff, and faculty. She also inherited a precarious fiscal environment marked by annual school budget cuts, as well as a national climate in which public education is under attack. She oversaw the completion and opening of a new elementary school (Amethyst Brook Elementary) and redistricting for that school, and implemented plans she inherited to open a standalone sixth-grade academy (Chestnut Street Academy) at the middle school.

Herman’s email is reproduced below.

Greetings Students, Families, Staff, and Community Members,

Yesterday, I informed the School Committees that I will be resigning from my position as Superintendent, effective at the end of the day on June 30, 2027. Until that time, I remain your Superintendent and am fully committed to serving our students, staff, families, and communities. My work here is far from finished, and my focus remains exactly where it has always been—on moving our districts forward.

The year ahead represents one of the most exciting and transformational periods in the history of our districts, and I remain fully invested in leading that work alongside all of you. The work before us represents years of planning, collaboration, and community engagement, and I am excited to see these initiatives become a reality for the students and families we serve.

Over the months ahead, we will welcome students and staff into Amethyst Brook Elementary School, the largest elementary school in Amherst, and launch Chestnut Street Academy, our first standalone sixth-grade academy. We will continue major capital improvements, including the new Amherst-Pelham Regional Middle School roof and the new Amherst-Pelham Regional High School track. We will launch a comprehensive districtwide curricular review, continue the Pelham Elementary Programmatic Review, strengthen the instructional systems that support teaching and learning across all three districts, and continue building systems that promote consistency, fairness, accountability, and excellence throughout our organization.

Our work will also remain focused on ensuring every student has access to an exceptional educational experience. Together, we will continue to strengthen support for all learners, advance our Call for Partnership to address systemic issues that impact equity across our schools, and ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn, belong, and thrive.

The opportunities before us are extraordinary. Together, we will continue to strengthen our schools, support our educators, expand opportunities for students, and build systems that ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive.

None of this work happens because of one individual. It is the result of the collective commitment of our Principals, Directors, Administrators, Central Office staff, teachers, paraprofessionals, support staff, School Committees, caregivers, community partners, and, most importantly, our students. Together, we have moved these districts from theory to implementation, transforming ideas into action, challenges into opportunities, and vision into meaningful progress. The work ahead will require that same spirit of collaboration, professionalism, and shared commitment, and I look forward to continuing that work alongside all of you.

I remain fully committed to leading this work through the conclusion of my contract and look forward to partnering with our students, staff, families, and communities as we continue moving our districts forward—together.

Dr. Xi
Dr. E. Xiomara Herman
Superintendent of Schools