Dear Amherst Middle School Community,

It is with great excitement that I write to you as the incoming principal of Amherst Middle School. I hope this note finds you enjoying the holiday season and that you and your children have had a great start to the school year. I can assure you that I share in our school’s commitment to nurturing and educating your children each and every day in a safe and engaging learning environment.

I join the Amherst Middle School community as a seasoned secondary teacher and building administrator; however, I am first and foremost a father and husband. My wife, Nicole, and I are the proud parents of three energetic children and we look forward to bringing them to many AMS events throughout the school year, as they are already huge Amherst Tigers fans.

The 2022-23 school year marks my 15th year in education. For the previous five years, I had the pleasure of serving as an assistant principal at Amherst Central High School. I also have served as a social studies teacher for ten years and have also had roles as an instructional coach, department chair, basketball and tennis coach, and student council advisor. Although I have always felt at home in the classroom, it is in the position of school principal where I have felt most fulfilled, as it provides me the opportunity to work collaboratively with teachers while also staying connected to students and helping them grow and learn.

My ”why” for public education is rooted in a belief that it is truly a privilege to educate students; helping them build confidence in themselves to shape their world around them and become the best versions of themselves. I firmly believe that every child can excel and that the partnership between home and school is paramount to a child’s success. Together we can provide our children with an education that is second to none.

While I hope to share more about myself over the coming months, I also want to get to know all of you. With this in mind, I will be holding a “meet-and-greet” at our next PTSA meeting on January 11th at 7pm in the High School cafeteria. I will also be present at many of our upcoming AMS community events, such as musical performances and athletic contests, where I look forward to celebrating all of our students’ successes.

I am honored and humbled to begin serving as principal of Amherst Middle School, a role that I view as having the primary responsibility of serving faculty, staff and students so they can be their best. My door is always open to you and I sincerely welcome your input and support. I am excited about all we will accomplish together for our children and look forward to celebrating our collective successes as we continue the ‘22-23 school year together. Go Tigers!


Scott Lawniczak
Principal, Amherst Middle School