Amherst-Pelham administrators raise alarm over school superintendent’s behavior; executive session Wednesday

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Published: 01-21-2025 5:45 PM |
AMHERST — A dozen administrators in the Amherst and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools are accusing Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman of threats of physical harm, creating a hostile work environment, and allowing sexual and workplace harassment since she took the helm of the district last July.
The claims, outlined in an anonymous letter signed by the administrators, will be the subject of a joint executive session by the Regional and Union 26 school committees meeting Wednesday. While the letter is anonymous, its introduction states that the dozen administrators met on Dec. 17 with two School Committee members to share their concerns about Herman. They will not speak on the record due to worry about retaliation.
That is mentioned in the letter: “There is a rising sense of discomfort and fear in the work environment, particularly for administrators who work at central office.”
In advance of the 6 p.m. session at the middle school’s professional development office, Herman’s office announced Tuesday that the letter is the basis of the special meeting.
“While I categorically deny making any threats of physical harm or using inappropriate language, I take these allegations seriously and have worked diligently to ensure concerns are addressed professionally and responsibly,” Herman said in a statement released by her office. “Transparency and accountability are not just words; they are the foundation of how I lead.”
The recent letter is the second such letter to circulate in recent months, after an anonymous typewritten letter critical of Herman surfaced last fall, which the Gazette received in the mail, along with personal information about a district employee. That letter, in more abbreviated fashion, contained some of the same complaints about Herman, asking the school committees to “rescue us” from her leadership.
The latest letter has more details, with witnesses contending that when Herman determined who was responsible for the correspondence last fall, “she was so angry that she wanted to beat up (that administrator), and only her assistant was holding her back.”
In another alleged incident, the letter accuses Herman’s former assistant of insinuating violence by saying that if anyone “messed with” the superintendent or the assistant, she would have her brother, who was a sniper, immediately come to Amherst to “take care” of people.
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Among the hostile behavior alleged includes scolding administrators who refused to sign a nondisclosure agreement that would have prohibited them from having certain conversations among themselves and with their spouses.
The letter also cites several examples of what its authors believe constitute workplace and sexual harassment. In one such incident, Herman told an administrator to “fix your face” by putting on lipstick before participating in an on-camera interview. In another, a central office employee recounted a trip to a female strip club with some explicit detail during a professional development meeting.
Herman cites her directness and transparency as part of her leadership and getting the district to grow since she began in the position on July 1. She is the first person to permanently hold the title since former superintendent Michael Morris left at the end of August 2023 amid a controversy over the alleged treatment of trans students at the middle school.
Coming from the Virgin Islands, Herman is also the first Black person to be the superintendent in Amherst.
“Even within a community that values acceptance and openness, there are moments where resistance to change becomes evident,” Herman said. “In our district, this resistance often surfaces when change looks different from what was traditionally expected. These underlying dynamics can create barriers to collective growth and hinder the important work of building a stronger, more unified educational system.”
Herman said that when she first learned about the concerns in the letter in December, she requested that the school committees initiate an independent review to look into the matters thoroughly and objectively. A similar executive session was held by on Dec. 23.
With respect to the concerns raised about a district office employee, Herman noted that the matter was addressed promptly. “I met with the employee alongside Human Resources to discuss the concerns and ensure the appropriate steps were taken. As this is a personnel matter, further details cannot be shared, but I want to assure our community that professionalism and accountability were upheld throughout the process.”
Other criticisms in the anonymous letter are the ways Herman is overseeing the district, such as whether she is getting input for the move of sixth graders to the middle school and making schedule adjustments, as well as management of the budget process.
“I have consistently invited staff, caregivers, and community members to engage in direct conversations about their concerns,” Herman said. “When feedback comes anonymously, it becomes difficult to have constructive dialogue.
“These attacks feel personal rather than professional, but I remain steadfast in my commitment to engaging directly with staff, caregivers and community members to address concerns openly,” Herman said. “This dialogue is essential to moving our districts forward.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.