Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools superintendent stepping down. Here’s where she’s going.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Superintendent Nyah Hamlett will leave the school district on June 30 for a new job in Maryland.
Hamlett’s contract wasn’t set to expire until 2028, but on Tuesday, she announced her departure in a statement sent to students, staff and parents.
Her next step will take her to Maryland, where she will become the chief equity and development officer in the Division of Equity and Organizational Development for the Montgomery County Public Schools, according to a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“This was an incredibly difficult decision, one that was ultimately driven by my unwavering commitment to prioritizing the well-being and success of my children and family,” Hamlett said in a prepared statement.
“As I prepare to make way for the next leader, I feel deeply grateful for the opportunity and partnership with our Board, along with our team of amazing, dedicated and talented school and district staff,” she said.
Hamlett was hired in January 2021 at a salary of $226,000 and immediately focused on leading the district’s more than 11,000 students out of the COVID-19 pandemic and back into in-person classes.
A school system statement noted that, under Hamlett, 94.8% of students graduated on time in 2023 — a record — and that the district has led the state in passing rates on exams and increased the number of schools earning “A” or “B” grades on state report cards.
Her current salary is $269,700 a year, plus benefits — an increase of $43,700 since she was hired — and her contract was extended multiple times. In November, the board added another year to her contract, which would have expired June 30, 2028.
Hamlett was named a 2024-25 “Superintendent to Watch” in December by the National School Public Relations Association.
However, she also faced criticism, including allegations that she plagiarized her doctoral dissertation for The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and for her administration’s handling in particular of exceptional children’s programs, bullying incidents, antisemitic vandalism and threats against Jewish students, and a student-led walkout and flyers last year decrying genocide in Gaza.
In 2023, she filed a no-contact order against a former student and his father who were accused of stalking and harassing her.
The no-contact order was eventually dropped.
Hamlet will not receive any separation payments or benefits from the district, because it was her decision to leave, CHCCS spokesman Andy Jenks said in an email.
What’s next for Nyah Hamlett?
School board Chair George Griffin thanked Hamlett on behalf of the board in Tuesday’s statement for her “unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership.”
“Her commitment to our students, staff and entire school community has left a lasting, positive impact,” Griffin said. “In particular, we note that her steadfastness, attention to detail and fearlessness for taking action have truly been a benefit to all students here in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.”
Hamlett has 20 years of experience in education and was joined Tuesday by her extended family at a Montgomery County school board meeting, where she and other new hires were announced.
MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said he shared a high school principal with Hamlett — although they didn’t attend the same school — and also crossed paths with her in Virginia, where Hamlett served for 16 years, including as chief of staff for Loudoun County Public Schools.
Hamlett began her career as a special education teacher in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, where Taylor, who was hired last year as Montgomery County superintendent, also worked at one time, in addition to other Virginia districts, his LinkedIn profile shows.
Hamlett “has championed equity and organizational development by building systems and structures that remove barriers, cultivate a culture of care and ensure all students have access to high-quality affirming education,” Taylor said at Tuesday’s meeting. “Dr. Hamlett looks forward to returning home to MCPS to advance equity efforts that create meaningful, lasting impact and strengthen organizational systems for student success.”
Hamlett is also the lead consultant with GraspED Roots, which offers a “strength-based approach” for organizations dealing with diversity, inclusion and equity, communication, strategic planning and leadership, according to its website.
Hamlett declined to talk about her next steps in the district statement, saying “today is about gratitude.”
“I am grateful for the honor of leading our work and serving this community for the past four years. I will continue to champion the mission and vision of CHCCS alongside you through the end of this school year,” she said.
Hamlett is the fourth superintendent to serve the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district since 2011, when former Superintendent Neil Pedersen left after 19 years.
The school board will release more details about how Hamlett’s successor will be chosen in the next few weeks, the district said.
This story was originally published February 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM.
