By Greg Chandler
Zeeland Record
Eighteen months after Dr. Brandi-Lyn Mendham went on medical leave, the Zeeland Public Schools are cutting ties to the former district superintendent.
At a special meeting last Thursday, the ZPS Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution not to renew Mendham’s employment contract with the district, which is to expire on June 30. The resolution did not mention Mendham by name, but referred to her as “employee 109578.” There was no discussion by the board before the vote.
The school board had voted in late March not to renew Mendham’s contract “with respect to the position of Superintendent,” according to a letter from current ZPS Superintendent Rod Hetherton to Mendham dated March 30. That letter went on further to state that Hetherton recommended to the board non-renewal of Mendham’s administrator contract, and gave her the opportunity to request a meeting of the school board to discuss the matter.
“The reason for the contemplated non-renewal is that you have been on medical leave of absence since October 2024, and are unable to perform the job duties contemplated by the Superintendent Employment Contract,” Hetherton wrote in the letter.
The Zeeland Record obtained a copy of Hetherton’s letter to Mendham through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Mendham has been with ZPS for 12 years, starting in 2014 when she was appointed the district’s curriculum and technology director.
“Together with an exceptional team, we rebuilt curriculum systems, strengthened collaboration, and saw measurable gains in student achievement. One of the accomplishments I am most proud of was implementing a structured literacy system to support all learners – particularly those who struggled to read – well before it became a statewide mandate,” Mendham said.
Mendham was then chosen to become superintendent, on a 7-0 vote of the school board, in April 2021 and moved into that role in July 2021.
Shortly after completing her first year as superintendent, Mendham was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“Despite the diagnosis, I committed my heart and time to this system and community,” she told the school board prior to the vote. “I worked as hard as I possibly could for 3.5 years in the superintendent position until my physicians advised that the demands of the role were significantly impacting my health.”
In October 2024, Mendham went on medical leave.
“At that time, I made a public statement explaining that my decision to take leave was proactive and intentional – to focus on my health, not as a setback, but as a commitment to long-term wellbeing,” Mendham said. “I shared then, and still believe now, that prioritizing health is not a sign of weakness, but a step toward strength and resilience.”
Mendham is on long-term disability, and has not received a paycheck from ZPS since June 2025, she said.
On April 1 of last year, the school board decided to begin a search for a new superintendent while Mendham remained on leave. At the time, then-board President April DeWitt issued a statement that was posted on the ZPS website, calling the board’s action “an important step toward planning for the 2025-26 school year,” adding that the district continued to support Mendham during her leave.
“This decision, made in collaboration with Dr. Mendham, reflects a desire to explore various perspectives while ensuring the best possible leadership for our students, staff and families,” DeWitt said at that time.
In her comments to the board last Thursday, Mendham challenged those remarks.
“Since the beginning of my medical leave, much of the public conversation about my role has continued without my voice present,” Mendham said. “I feel it is important to speak directly now, because I believe deeply in truth, clarity, and the importance of allowing individuals to speak for themselves in matters that involve their lives and work.”
“Public communications at the time suggested that my departure and what followed were part of a collaborative decision. That was not my understanding of the circumstances as I experienced them. The ability to determine if or how I might return was ultimately not a decision I was able to make,” she added.
In June of last year, shortly after the board chose Hetherton to be the new ZPS superintendent, the board voted unanimously to reassign Mendham to a position titled “school administrator,” with duties to be determined by Hetherton. However, Mendham says she was never informed about her job being reassigned, and was never told what her duties were.
“I find it difficult to understand how a recommendation for non-renewal has been made for a position that has never been defined or communicated to me,” she said. “I first learned of my reassignment to a general ‘administrator’ role after reading the board minutes from last June. I received no communication from the board or the district. The board, at that time, suggested my duties would be assigned by the new superintendent. To this day, no duties for that role have been provided.”
Board President Rick Dernberger declined to comment on the board’s action after the meeting.
ZPS released a statement last Friday: “With personnel matters, the District is limited in what it can share publicly. The Board followed the appropriate process and made this decision after careful consideration of the district’s needs.”
Mendham shared some of her favorite moments from being part of ZPS, including being able to hand out high school diplomas to her three children, one of whom was with her for last Thursday’s meeting.
“Even in an ending I did not choose, I remain deeply grateful for the relationships, the shared work, and the many people who have dedicated themselves to students every single day,” she said. “I am, first and foremost, a mother, and I am grateful to soon be Les’ wife. Those roles now guide my next chapter. My focus will be on my family, my health, and continuing to contribute in ways grounded in respect and integrity.”
Mendham has retained an attorney, Kelly McClintock of the Ann Arbor-based firm Blanchard & Walker PLLC. McClintock said after the meeting that it was too early to say whether Mendham may pursue legal action against ZPS.
Zeeland Record
Eighteen months after Dr. Brandi-Lyn Mendham went on medical leave, the Zeeland Public Schools are cutting ties to the former district superintendent.
At a special meeting last Thursday, the ZPS Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution not to renew Mendham’s employment contract with the district, which is to expire on June 30. The resolution did not mention Mendham by name, but referred to her as “employee 109578.” There was no discussion by the board before the vote.
The school board had voted in late March not to renew Mendham’s contract “with respect to the position of Superintendent,” according to a letter from current ZPS Superintendent Rod Hetherton to Mendham dated March 30. That letter went on further to state that Hetherton recommended to the board non-renewal of Mendham’s administrator contract, and gave her the opportunity to request a meeting of the school board to discuss the matter.
“The reason for the contemplated non-renewal is that you have been on medical leave of absence since October 2024, and are unable to perform the job duties contemplated by the Superintendent Employment Contract,” Hetherton wrote in the letter.
The Zeeland Record obtained a copy of Hetherton’s letter to Mendham through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Mendham has been with ZPS for 12 years, starting in 2014 when she was appointed the district’s curriculum and technology director.
“Together with an exceptional team, we rebuilt curriculum systems, strengthened collaboration, and saw measurable gains in student achievement. One of the accomplishments I am most proud of was implementing a structured literacy system to support all learners – particularly those who struggled to read – well before it became a statewide mandate,” Mendham said.
Mendham was then chosen to become superintendent, on a 7-0 vote of the school board, in April 2021 and moved into that role in July 2021.
Shortly after completing her first year as superintendent, Mendham was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“Despite the diagnosis, I committed my heart and time to this system and community,” she told the school board prior to the vote. “I worked as hard as I possibly could for 3.5 years in the superintendent position until my physicians advised that the demands of the role were significantly impacting my health.”
In October 2024, Mendham went on medical leave.
“At that time, I made a public statement explaining that my decision to take leave was proactive and intentional – to focus on my health, not as a setback, but as a commitment to long-term wellbeing,” Mendham said. “I shared then, and still believe now, that prioritizing health is not a sign of weakness, but a step toward strength and resilience.”
Mendham is on long-term disability, and has not received a paycheck from ZPS since June 2025, she said.
On April 1 of last year, the school board decided to begin a search for a new superintendent while Mendham remained on leave. At the time, then-board President April DeWitt issued a statement that was posted on the ZPS website, calling the board’s action “an important step toward planning for the 2025-26 school year,” adding that the district continued to support Mendham during her leave.
“This decision, made in collaboration with Dr. Mendham, reflects a desire to explore various perspectives while ensuring the best possible leadership for our students, staff and families,” DeWitt said at that time.
In her comments to the board last Thursday, Mendham challenged those remarks.
“Since the beginning of my medical leave, much of the public conversation about my role has continued without my voice present,” Mendham said. “I feel it is important to speak directly now, because I believe deeply in truth, clarity, and the importance of allowing individuals to speak for themselves in matters that involve their lives and work.”
“Public communications at the time suggested that my departure and what followed were part of a collaborative decision. That was not my understanding of the circumstances as I experienced them. The ability to determine if or how I might return was ultimately not a decision I was able to make,” she added.
In June of last year, shortly after the board chose Hetherton to be the new ZPS superintendent, the board voted unanimously to reassign Mendham to a position titled “school administrator,” with duties to be determined by Hetherton. However, Mendham says she was never informed about her job being reassigned, and was never told what her duties were.
“I find it difficult to understand how a recommendation for non-renewal has been made for a position that has never been defined or communicated to me,” she said. “I first learned of my reassignment to a general ‘administrator’ role after reading the board minutes from last June. I received no communication from the board or the district. The board, at that time, suggested my duties would be assigned by the new superintendent. To this day, no duties for that role have been provided.”
Board President Rick Dernberger declined to comment on the board’s action after the meeting.
ZPS released a statement last Friday: “With personnel matters, the District is limited in what it can share publicly. The Board followed the appropriate process and made this decision after careful consideration of the district’s needs.”
Mendham shared some of her favorite moments from being part of ZPS, including being able to hand out high school diplomas to her three children, one of whom was with her for last Thursday’s meeting.
“Even in an ending I did not choose, I remain deeply grateful for the relationships, the shared work, and the many people who have dedicated themselves to students every single day,” she said. “I am, first and foremost, a mother, and I am grateful to soon be Les’ wife. Those roles now guide my next chapter. My focus will be on my family, my health, and continuing to contribute in ways grounded in respect and integrity.”
Mendham has retained an attorney, Kelly McClintock of the Ann Arbor-based firm Blanchard & Walker PLLC. McClintock said after the meeting that it was too early to say whether Mendham may pursue legal action against ZPS.
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