Amanda Herrera-Gundale Named Principal of Obama Middle School

I am pleased to announce that we have selected Amanda Herrera-Gundale as the first principal of the new Barack and Michelle Obama Middle School. As a reminder, the Montessori program at J.J. Hill is moving to the Obama building for the 2025-26 school year and will be known as Barack and Michelle Obama Montessori Elementary School. Lizzy Diemer will continue to serve as the PreK-5 principal.

Principal Herrera-Gundale has spent the last 22 years in SPPS, beginning as a bilingual elementary teacher and most recently serving as an assistant director in the Office of Teaching and Learning since January 2022. She has spent much of her last 10 years focused on middle schools, and I am excited to see her leadership continue to grow in this new role.

Amanda will start in time to represent Obama Middle School at the School Choice Fair on Dec. 14, 2024.

In Partnership,

John Thein, Interim Superintendent