Auburn superintendent announces retirement; committee to form search group

Superintendent Dr. Beth Chamberlain told the Auburn School Committee she will retire effective June 30, 2026, and the committee voted to accept her notice. Chamberlain said she will help with the transition and praised district staff and community partners.

In a letter read at the meeting, Chamberlain wrote, “I will be forever grateful to this school committee. A school district succeeds or fails based on the support of a school committee.” She thanked teachers, staff, students, families and external partners, and said she looks forward to spending more time with family.

Committee members expressed appreciation for Chamberlain’s service. The committee immediately moved to create a superintendent hiring search committee. The committee appointed two school committee members (the chair and vice chair) to lead the search and asked that a range of stakeholders — administrators, teachers, staff, parents, students and community representatives — be invited to participate in the process.

As an immediate step, the committee approved distributing a community survey this summer to gather priorities for the next superintendent; the survey will solicit input from staff, families, students and local partners and will be used to shape focus groups and candidate criteria. Committee leaders said they plan public listening sessions in the fall and to include stakeholders in screening and finalist interviews.

The committee noted Chamberlain will remain in her role through the 2025–26 school year and will assist with transition tasks the board assigns.