PITTSFIELD — Herberg Middle School Principal Michael Taber has announced that he’s stepping down from the role, leaving a gap in a position crucial to the fall launch of the city’s middle school restructuring.

In a letter to Herberg families sent Thursday, Taber said he’s leaving at the end of the school year to take a position in another district, which he did not specify.

“This was not an easy decision,” Taber said. “After much reflection, ongoing health considerations, and a desire to spend more time with my family, I have decided that this is the right next step for me personally and professionally.”

This fall, Herberg and Reid are moving from grade 6-8 middle schools to citywide upper and lower middle schools, with grades 5-6 at Herberg and grades 7-8 at Reid.

Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said filling the Herberg role is a top priority. But she remains confident that the transition to a citywide school will be a success, as planning has involved not only Taber, but all of Herberg’s leadership team and the district administration.

“It will be a loss,” Phillips said of Taber’s departure. “I do want to acknowledge Mike stepped into the role two days before the school year, and he spent a lot of time building the culture and stabilizing the Herberg environment. I am sad to see him go but I also understand the personal reasons [behind his decision]," she said.

In a message to Herberg families on Tuesday, Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Stokes announced the district is seeking staff, families and community members to form a search committee to “help us find the best candidate for this important leadership position.” Interviews are tentatively scheduled to take place on June 23.

Phillips said experience and licensure are far from the only criteria that the administration will consider in picking a new leader at Herberg. Rather, she’s looking for leaders with a passion for public education and a willingness to take on the challenge of turning the district around.

“We’re really looking for leaders who are prepared to work within our context,” she said. “We really want candidates who understand the challenges we have here and who come with a commitment and a passion to turn around our schools.

“I think part of us having stability and sustainability is being open about, ‘This is what we need; this is the commitment and support we have to develop leaders.’”

Taber, a former dean of students at Herberg, was called back to the Pomeroy Avenue school two days before the 2025-26 school year began when Ian Brown was placed on administrative leave and subsequently resigned. Brown had been hired just months before to succeed William Wood.

Observers have credited Taber for making a seamless transition on the fly and maintaining stability at Herberg. Recently, he had visited Pittsfield elementary schools, welcoming fourth and fifth graders to Herberg for its first-ever year as the city’s lower middle school.

While Taber is excited for his new opportunity, he said leaving Herberg is “incredibly difficult” given his years there. He thanked students for their energy and enthusiasm, families and for their partnership, support and trust, and staff for their daily commitment to students.

“Throughout my time at Herberg, I have witnessed countless examples of resilience, kindness, growth, and achievement. I have celebrated student successes, supported students through challenges, and watched generations of families entrust us with their children’s education,” Taber said. “Those experiences have shaped me as both an educator and a person, and they are memories I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Taber's departure leaves the schools with four principal openings for the second straight year. Also departing are Egremont Principal Susan Dapson, Williams Principal Kerry Light and Conte Principal Theresa Dudziak, who is returning to teaching next year.

Phillips said she intends to announce appointments for at least one of those openings when the Pittsfield School Committee meets Wednesday.

At a School Committee meeting earlier this year, Phillips said none of the district’s principals said they found the job “manageable,” given the additional demands of staffing shortages and problem student behaviors. For the upcoming year, the district will focus on support and development for building leaders, with the goal of allowing them to put greater focus on academics, she said.

“That’s really important for us — really identifying whose primary role is academics, whose primary role is climate and culture and making sure that we’re freeing up the principal to do more academic work,” Phillips said.