MIDDLEBORO — Days after Middleboro Superintendent of Schools Carolyn Lyons was passed over for the Mansfield schools top job, Middleboro School Committee members praised her work and criticized negative comments they said have been made about her on social media.

“It’s been a difficult week,’’ Lyons said at the Feb. 13 School Committee meeting, the first since she was named one of the top three finalists for the Mansfield superintendent of schools job, which ultimately went to another candidate. 

She assured the committee that she would “continue to do my job’’ and would “never stop in the interest of students and the Middleboro public schools, whether I work here or not.’’

Committee chair Allin Frawley angrily denounced what he described as “reprehensible’’ comments on social media. 

“If you wonder why we have a bullying problem, maybe you should look in the mirror because your kids see the things you say from the safety of your home, at a keyboard.’’

He said people should “shut up and stand up if you have a problem’’ with how things are handled. “There are opportunities to make differences in this community and no one takes them.’’

Committee member Ezekiel Lewis described Lyons as “an amazing superintendent’’ who “cares deeply about every student, every teacher, every administrator’’ and “does not deserve the vitriol that is transpiring.’’

“To say I’m disappointed is an understatement,’’ he said of the tone of the comments. “To say I’m frustrated is an understatement.’’

Committee member Jessica Chartoff described Lyons as a “highly capable, committed and caring superintendent’’ whom she trusts to “continue to do the work’’ of the district. 

Residents need to disagree “without attacks,’’ committee member Susan Pennini said. “We need to find better ways to have conversations with each other.’’

The comments reflect a “lack of trust and faith in the School Committee as an entity,’’ committee member Christopher Benson said.

Whether or not those sentiments are justified, he urged the committee to ‘’ build that bond back’’ so that the community “feels heard.’’