AMHERST — Even as Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman will be leaving her position at the end of June 2027, two of the three school committees issued evaluations this week stating that her work needs improvement.
In performance reviews finalized Tuesday, both the Amherst-Pelham Regional and Amherst school committees composite scores gave Herman’s work “needs improvement,” while four of the five Pelham School Committee members rated Herman’s performance as proficient, with the other rating it as unsatisfactory.
The regional school committee’s evaluation, written by Chairman William Sherr, notes that of the nine members, one cited Herman’s performance as exemplary and three as proficient, but four placed her work in the needs improvement category and one rated it as unsatisfactory.
“Overall, the committee concludes that the superintendent demonstrated meaningful
accomplishments in instructional leadership, operational management, strategic planning, and organizational improvement while recognizing that continued growth is needed in communication, stakeholder engagement, collaboration, policy implementation and
organizational trust,” Sherr wrote.
Herman was evaluated on various goals, some that applied to all three districts, such as updating the bullying prevention and intervention plan, while others were more specific, such as the grades K-6 restructuring in Amherst and the structured program review for Pelham.
A similar review was issued by the Amherst School Committee and written by Chairwoman Deborah Leonard.
“While priorities have been well articulated, there is concern that follow-through has been
inconsistent, particularly in operational systems such as scheduling, safety response and data use,” Leonard wrote. “These inconsistencies have contributed to a perception of reactivity rather than stability, limiting the district’s ability to provide predictable, well-coordinated conditions for students and staff during a period of change.”
Leonard also references “concerns about strained relationships with senior leadership and governance bodies, which have affected collaboration at critical moments and, in some cases, contributed to leadership turnover” and a lack of trust between the superintendent, school committee and community.
Whether those latter issues played a role in Herman’s decision is uncertain, but the committees received a letter from Alison Estes, the Wildwood School principal who will be assuming leadership at the new Amethyst Brook School, retiring Crocker Farm Principal Derek Shea and Alicia Lopez, the assistant principal at Crocker Farm, calling out various actions by the committee members.
They read this letter, expressing dismay and concern at Herman’s decision to resign at the end of the next school year.
“The work of leading our district has been monumental, but Dr. Herman has remained focused on one consistent priority: students,” Shea said. “She has made difficult decisions and challenged the status quo with steadfast resolve to move the district forward.”
But they were also critical of and saddened by the tone of school committee meetings, with specific references to what Estes said was the treatment meted out to both Herman and Sarah Marshall, an Amherst representative.
“This is merely our own observation, but both Dr. Herman and Ms. Marshall appear to have been muted or silenced on numerous occasions when they attempted to speak during meetings, leaving us to wonder what they have done to be subjected to such unkindness,” Estes said.
While Herman has not said publicly if discussions at school committee meetings led to her decision, Jenny Bradbury, a member of the Pelham School Committee, suggested that what was happening at some meetings was not in the best interest of students and families, and Herman leaving in 12 months will mean a lot of lost progress.
“I hope the other members of these school committees will take it to heart,” Bradbury said of the letter brought by Lopez, Shea and Estes.
“I am deeply disappointed in the behavior that has led to Dr. Xis’ decision to not stay on, to not seek another term,” Bradbury said. “I think that is not serving our students, that is not serving our families.”
Marshall also offered a statement about Herman’s notification that she would be superintendent for only three years.
“I am deeply saddened by Dr. Xi’s decision not to seek renewal of her contract,” Marshall said. “I think her departure will be a terrible loss for our students, our staff and our system.”
Herman said she anticipated responding to the evaluations in writing, with her commentaries likely to be attached publicly to the documents available online.
Herman already provided some details about her performance previously.
“Overall, this year reflects meaningful progress in a challenging context, alongside important lessons that position the district for stronger alignment, clearer communication, and more consistent outcomes moving forward,” she wrote. “With focused attention on these areas, there is a strong opportunity to build momentum and deepen the district’s impact for students, staff, and the community.”
She also elaborated on what she sees as the purpose of being evaluated, specifically noting how many committee members agreed to meet with her for one-on-one conversations.
“It is my belief that the true value of an evaluation lies not simply in the rating it reflects but in the conversations it encourages, the understanding it builds and the growth it inspires,” Herman said.
Herman started meeting with the Pelham School Committee offering appreciation for all of those working on behalf of students.
“Public school system work is never easy and nor is the work of one individual, it is the product of hundreds,” Herman said.
