Amy Doyle, an experienced educator and administrator, is returning to the Hopkinton School District — this time as its next superintendent.

Doyle, who is currently the assistant superintendent at the Merrimack School District, will step into her new role at the end of the school year. She will be taking over for Michael Flynn, who is moving on to lead the Derry Cooperative School District.

“It’s really like coming home,” said Doyle. “Hopkinton has very high academic standards but also understands the importance of supporting all aspects of a student, and so they really do take the whole child approach, which is a really good fit for me.”

Doyle’s journey with Hopkinton began in 2016 as the assistant principal of Harold Martin and Maple Street schools. By 2018, she had stepped into the principal role at Maple Street. Before that, she spent 18 years as both a classroom teacher and special education teacher in Bow.

Doyle will join the Hopkinton school district on July 1.

“Having a new superintendent will be a transition, and a bittersweet one at that, but we are truly thrilled about having Amy join our team,” Dulcie Lipoma, Hopkinton school board chair, said in a statement. “Her proven ability to build strong relationships, coupled with her deep understanding of curriculum and special education, makes her the ideal leader to guide Hopkinton forward.”

Coming from Merrimack, a school district with around 3,200 students, Doyle will oversee Hopkinton’s much smaller enrollment of about 955.

She said the core challenges facing public schools remain the same, regardless of size — especially when it comes to budget constraints and maximizing every dollar. Like many educators and administrators in public education, she advocates for increased state funding.

“The adequacy formula is not adequate, and we know that it’s been challenged in court,” said Doyle. “As a school leader now, it’ll be my responsibility to ensure that our voices are heard, whether that looks like going to the State House and testifying, I certainly could be part of that.”

For Doyle, leadership is about collaboration.

Since stepping into an administrative role in the Merrimack School District, she said she has learned and evolved in ways she didn’t have the opportunity to as an educator.

“I’ve been able to work with a bigger leadership team, which I think helps you grow as a leader, because you just have so much variability,” said Doyle. “So I’m excited to bring all of that back to Hopkinton.”