Mark Taylor outlines the challenges and opportunities before Spotsylvania Public Schools and reminds us that 'in-person connections support and nurture the accomplishments of our students.'
Was curious to see how those who live in the area would respond. Also interesting that Superintendent Taylor felt no inclination to appear on this forum until just before the Spotsy School Board meets on a personnel matter....surely there's no relation, right?
Right....
BTW - I notice the question I found most interesting was the one not addressed. The one that put's me in mind of a 1980's fast food commercial:
For the first time since he was hired, he has a mostly-pro-education school board to answer to, as well. I have a feeling we will see more of this sort of BS because he’d like to hang on to his job.
Having inside knowledge on the ins and outs of public education, our teachers, and our children gives a certain faction around here opportunities to continue their Othering and to tear it all down
When Mr. Taylor talks about VDOE standards requiring class sizes as small as 8, he's talking about special education self-contained classrooms. The language of "squeezed from both sides" gives the impression that Mr. Taylor believes those standards are inappropriate or an unrealistic expectation for school divisions. Mr. Taylor should have a conversation with our self-contained teachers to find out if they believe 8 is too few students.
Special education is just one area in which Mark Taylor lacks essential knowledge and experience to make crucial decisions that will impact all of our students for years to come. Last year he played very loose with the facts (and the law) when he threatened to close school libraries and opt out of CGS and IB.
Special education needs are significant in this district and as such should not be misrepresented by the superintendent. Of course small class sizes are imperative for self-contained special education classes and you are right in questioning why the superintendent appears to be representing those requirements as frivolous.
Mr. Taylor should have a real conversation with many in Spotsylvania who work with all students but that doesn't seem to be part of his playbook. The needs of SCPS are great and we need someone knowledgeable and committed to public education leading our division. We don't need smoke and mirrors.
When Taylor proposed eliminating school libraries, he validated what so many in Spotsylvania County know to be true: that he is unfit to be a superintendent. As a lawyer, he knew what he was proposing was illegal under Virginia code/law. Now, given his lack of apparent experience and commitment to the student's needs, character, and integrity, he should resign, but he's going to continue to attempt to destroy Spotsylvania public education if given a chance. My hope is that he is fired immediately and removed from his post, lest we lose any more quality teachers, central office staff, and school staff. He and twigg have decimated Spotsy's education system, setting it back at least 20 years. I'm hoping he's removed quickly, lest he cause any further damage.
The big problem is that the previous school board entered into a contract with Taylor which agreed to pay him his salary for a total of four years. We’re talking here of contracting to pay $1 million to this man. And if he is fired with or without cause, he still gets that money, according to his contract
He has no business being anywhere near the school system, making decisions that can have significant negative repercussions that impact Spotsy students. I say get him gone... like yesterday... he is unfit and a clear and present danger to Spotsylvania Public Schools.
It appears that the Mark Taylor image rehab tour is underway. Not surprising now that he has to work with a school board that knows he is unqualified for the job.
This might work on readers outside of Spotsylvania. But the man truly has zero business working in public schools.
While he was County Administrator, he didn't support the schools. He's had the gall to claim he didn't know abouts the needs of the division when he was CA. The only way he wouldn't have known was if he didn't pay attention to the presentations and what board members said, me included! There is probably a slide somewhere showing our admin numbers are in the bottom of the state.
Something he stated in this piece is The current school year paints a very different picture. 47 elementary school grade levels exceed state class size standards (46.1% of all elementary school grade levels). That means the data given in the linked article is skewed. With that many classes exceeding class size standards we need more teachers, but we couldn’t hire them. That means, in reality, our vacancies are much greater.
Never forget Taylor wanted to close every school library and had the unmitigated gall to say "why do you need a library when 'there's an app for that'" holding up his phone and pointing to it. It's he's such a loser as are Gillespie and Phelps - which btw - for her to say "I don't like being a party to a lawsuit" sound like something twigg would say. Can't wait for them all to be GONE!
Was curious to see how those who live in the area would respond. Also interesting that Superintendent Taylor felt no inclination to appear on this forum until just before the Spotsy School Board meets on a personnel matter....surely there's no relation, right?
Right....
BTW - I notice the question I found most interesting was the one not addressed. The one that put's me in mind of a 1980's fast food commercial:
"Where's the books?"
Still waiting for the answer to that one.
For the first time since he was hired, he has a mostly-pro-education school board to answer to, as well. I have a feeling we will see more of this sort of BS because he’d like to hang on to his job.
Having inside knowledge on the ins and outs of public education, our teachers, and our children gives a certain faction around here opportunities to continue their Othering and to tear it all down
When Mr. Taylor talks about VDOE standards requiring class sizes as small as 8, he's talking about special education self-contained classrooms. The language of "squeezed from both sides" gives the impression that Mr. Taylor believes those standards are inappropriate or an unrealistic expectation for school divisions. Mr. Taylor should have a conversation with our self-contained teachers to find out if they believe 8 is too few students.
Special education is just one area in which Mark Taylor lacks essential knowledge and experience to make crucial decisions that will impact all of our students for years to come. Last year he played very loose with the facts (and the law) when he threatened to close school libraries and opt out of CGS and IB.
Special education needs are significant in this district and as such should not be misrepresented by the superintendent. Of course small class sizes are imperative for self-contained special education classes and you are right in questioning why the superintendent appears to be representing those requirements as frivolous.
Mr. Taylor should have a real conversation with many in Spotsylvania who work with all students but that doesn't seem to be part of his playbook. The needs of SCPS are great and we need someone knowledgeable and committed to public education leading our division. We don't need smoke and mirrors.
When Taylor proposed eliminating school libraries, he validated what so many in Spotsylvania County know to be true: that he is unfit to be a superintendent. As a lawyer, he knew what he was proposing was illegal under Virginia code/law. Now, given his lack of apparent experience and commitment to the student's needs, character, and integrity, he should resign, but he's going to continue to attempt to destroy Spotsylvania public education if given a chance. My hope is that he is fired immediately and removed from his post, lest we lose any more quality teachers, central office staff, and school staff. He and twigg have decimated Spotsy's education system, setting it back at least 20 years. I'm hoping he's removed quickly, lest he cause any further damage.
My big worry now is that the board won’t do it. It needs to happen sooner rather than later.
The big problem is that the previous school board entered into a contract with Taylor which agreed to pay him his salary for a total of four years. We’re talking here of contracting to pay $1 million to this man. And if he is fired with or without cause, he still gets that money, according to his contract
He has no business being anywhere near the school system, making decisions that can have significant negative repercussions that impact Spotsy students. I say get him gone... like yesterday... he is unfit and a clear and present danger to Spotsylvania Public Schools.
Phelps is a huge part of decimation of our school division. In my opinion, Twigg was just dumb, Phelps is deceitful and evil.
It appears that the Mark Taylor image rehab tour is underway. Not surprising now that he has to work with a school board that knows he is unqualified for the job.
This might work on readers outside of Spotsylvania. But the man truly has zero business working in public schools.
#WhereAreTheBooks
Seriously, this guy...
While he was County Administrator, he didn't support the schools. He's had the gall to claim he didn't know abouts the needs of the division when he was CA. The only way he wouldn't have known was if he didn't pay attention to the presentations and what board members said, me included! There is probably a slide somewhere showing our admin numbers are in the bottom of the state.
Thankfully the division is doing what their supposed to do, but he, nor the former majority has anything to do with any successes. They are the reason we have lost 700 teachers over the past two years. See this link https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9meGJnYWR2YW5jZS5zdWJzdGFjay5jb20vcC93aGF0cy10aGUtc3RhdGUtb2YtdGhlLXRlYWNoZXItc2hvcnRhZ2U_dXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWVtYWlsLXBvc3Qmcj1sbWt2byZ0b2tlbj1leUoxYzJWeVgybGtJam96TmpNeU5UUXlPQ3dpY0c5emRGOXBaQ0k2TVRRd05EZ3hNVEl3TENKcFlYUWlPakUzTURRM09UZzBOVGNzSW1WNGNDSTZNVGN3TnpNNU1EUTFOeXdpYVhOeklqb2ljSFZpTFRFek1UVXlOVGdpTENKemRXSWlPaUp3YjNOMExYSmxZV04wYVc5dUluMC5XcGlfX1VSTTh5TnFHdGJ2M1hqTW9LX2pfZEFlVDhMVXlRUjRydS0zYzA0IiwicCI6MTQwNDgxMTIwLCJzIjoxMzE1MjU4LCJmIjpmYWxzZSwidSI6MzYzMjU0MjgsImlhdCI6MTcwNDc5ODQ1NywiZXhwIjoxNzA3MzkwNDU3LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMCIsInN1YiI6ImxpbmstcmVkaXJlY3QifQ.GwF2p68k5csXP6qMZY0bzKgqvMRh08xyACKAoscncFs?.
Something he stated in this piece is The current school year paints a very different picture. 47 elementary school grade levels exceed state class size standards (46.1% of all elementary school grade levels). That means the data given in the linked article is skewed. With that many classes exceeding class size standards we need more teachers, but we couldn’t hire them. That means, in reality, our vacancies are much greater.
Taylor should not be in his role!
Never forget Taylor wanted to close every school library and had the unmitigated gall to say "why do you need a library when 'there's an app for that'" holding up his phone and pointing to it. It's he's such a loser as are Gillespie and Phelps - which btw - for her to say "I don't like being a party to a lawsuit" sound like something twigg would say. Can't wait for them all to be GONE!