Concord School Superintendent Kathleen Murphy has taken a leave of absence until at least the end of 2025 and will be replaced by Concord High Principal Timothy Herbert, the district announced Tuesday.
Murphy had taken several weeks off for medical leave this summer and requested a longer medical leave of absence over the weekend, which was granted by the school board in non-public session Monday night.
“Her health is her first priority and ours,” school board President Pamela Walsh said Tuesday.
Herbert will serve as interim superintendent in her absence. He joined the district as an assistant principal at the high school in 2019 and has led the school since 2023. Herbert has a current superintendent certification and a doctorate in education. Before coming to Concord, he was an assistant principal at Pembroke Academy.
For at least the next several months, Kristen Gallo, who has been principal of Christa McAuliffe School for thirteen years, will serve as principal at Concord High, while the assistant principal at the McAuliffe school, Lindsay Nye, will lead that school.
The district did not share any details of Murphy’s health other than to say her leave of absence has been approved through the end of December.
“We will greatly miss Kathleen’s daily presence during her leave, but we are grateful that she has built a strong team that will allow us to weather her absence. We wish Kathleen all the best and hope for her swift return,” Walsh said in a statement. “We are grateful for all of the staff members who quickly and willingly agreed to step up to continue our important work and help ensure a smooth first day of school for all our students.”
Murphy announced in February that this school year would be her final with the district. The school board began looking for a superintendent search firm last month.
The first day of school in Concord is August 27.
