AMHERST — Diego Sharon, in his third year as principal at Amherst Regional Middle School, is leaving the position at the end of the school year.

Superintendent Michael Morris told the Amherst Regional School Committee on Tuesday that Sharon is looking for different educational employment that would place him closer to students after leading the school since July 1, 2020.

A job profile is being developed and an advertisement for the opening will be posted from Feb. 14 to March 13. Screening and interview committees will then be set up to find a successor.

Morris noted that Sharon has been with the district for four years, beginning as dean of students at the middle school before his appointment as principal.

“I appreciate all the service and will try to build on his successes over the last few years,” Morris said.

Interviews with candidates are expected in mid-March, finalists will be announced at the end of March, and an appointment by Morris is anticipated by the end of April.

When Sharon took the position, he became the first permanent principal in four years at the building that had been led by interim principals following earlier resignations.

A native of Colombia, Sharon brought a 25-year career as an educator focusing on social equity and student-centered learning, with experience as a high school teacher in California and the co-founder of an urban charter school for underserved populations and language minority students.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>