Dr. Xi pledges focus on student safety and well-being
Xiomara Herman, referred to as Dr. Xi (pronounced Zee) began her term as the new superintendent of the ARPS district on July 1, 2024.
Dr. Xi believes there are different definitions of being a superintendent, depending on who you ask. “If you ask the school committee, I’m their educational leader, the person in charge who executes policy day-to-day to make sure everyone is [following protocols],” said Dr. Xi. “However, I think there is a deeper meaning to being a superintendent.”
According to her, “It’s not just a job, it’s a responsibility,” and one she takes seriously.
“My definition of a superintendent is to be the strongest and fiercest child advocate there is,” said Dr. Xi.
In keeping with that, Dr. Xi’s main goal as a new superintendent is to make sure that “every student finds themselves in a safe and welcoming environment to ensure that they can be their best selves.“
Dr. Xi grew up in St Croix, in the US Virgin Islands, known for its gorgeous beaches. She earned her bachelor’s from the University of the Virgin Islands, followed by her master’s and her doctorate at Walden University. She was also a Fellow at the Broad Fellowship Public Education Leadership at the Yale School of Management.
Getting to where she is today is linked to what Dr. Xi described as “a calling” to be in public education. “I’ve learned that you can have a bunch of plans in life, but life has its own draft of what you need to be, it has its own outline,” she said.
Dr. Xi was raised by an educator. That emphasis on education influenced her at the age of 19 to return home and teach at a private school. “From day one, stepping into that classroom, I always wanted to help children,” she said.
Dr. Xi loves her job in educational leadership and “working alongside people who are very passionate about the needs of children.”
“I feel like I’m in a place where we all know that our purpose and our passion is making sure children have the best opportunities,” said Dr Xi. “I lead with my heart and I always put my best intention forward.”
She is also stepping into this role after a Title IX investigatory report (completed by Ed Mitnick in September of 2023 and made public in November 2023) indicated that Amherst school leaders had failed students over LGBTQ+ bullying, causing many to lose trust in the district’s leadership.
Dr. Xi says she can’t undo the mistakes from the past but she hopes to “make sure everyone feels safe being who they are.”
“I prioritize student safety and well-being,” said Dr. Xi. “I prioritize healing, stabilizing the district, and rebuilding trust.”
Since taking on her new job, she has been sending videos to family each week and creating regular, consistent, and transparent communication.
Dr Xi also introduced a new acronym for the district’s core values: ARPS, which stands for accountability, respect, professionalism, and (being) student-centered.
Something that Dr. Xi would like students and staff to know about her is that she’s open to questions and dialogue. “I’m a person who’s accessible, and I’m here to serve,” said Dr. Xi. “We have space for people to be welcomed and for their voices to be heard.”
