Stafford Superintendent Wins Honor
Dr. Thomas Taylor hasn't been in Stafford long, but he's made his impact felt. Virginia Association of School Superintendents honored that work this week.
by Martin Davis
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dr. Thomas Taylor hit the ground running in Stafford County when he was named Superintendent in December 2021, putting together an impressive string of successes for Stafford’s students while dealing with a global pandemic, the funding challenges that confront many districts across the Commonwealth, and the pressures associated with the rapid growth in student body -- up some 1,500 students since he took over.
His body of work has been recognized by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, which has named him the Superintendent of the Year for VASS District III.
Join FXBG Advance editor-in-chief Martin Davis and columnist Shaun Kenney as they talk with Taylor about some of the challenges facing public education, including teacher retention, how COVID recovery is a more serious problem than we realize, and how the relationship between local government, public schools, and Richmond needs a serious rethink built on trust and realistic need.
Taylor was selected from a list of Superintendents in neighboring Fredericksburg City, as well as Caroline and Spotsylvania counties.
“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition, but the real accolades belong to the extraordinary team working in Stafford County Public Schools,” said Dr. Taylor. “It is only through the amazing work of our teachers, administrators, and service staff, as well as our incredible community partners, that we are able to elevate Stafford.”
Among Taylor’s achievements has been the introduction of the Chart Your Future event, which gives students an opportunity to meet employers, military recruiters, and representatives from post-secondary educational institutions to learn more about the opportunities before them.
Another way that Taylor has assisted students is by securing a partnership with the JED Foundation to address student mental health, and developing new Specialty Centers that offer 4-year pathways for like-minded high school students that are designed to deliver a rich academic experience leading to high quality post-secondary outcomes. The following three centers will be open for enrollment in Fall 2024:
Leadership, Education, and Public Service (LEAPS) Center at Mountain View High School
Engineering Professions and Industries of Construction (EPIC) Center at Stafford High School
Community Health and Medical Professions (CHAMP) Center at Brooke Point High School
“Our students are our most important stakeholder,” said Dr. Taylor. “Every decision, every action, every conversation must be focused on their success. I’m very proud of the progress we have made, and look forward to continuing our work to develop opportunities for student success both in and out of the classroom.”
Beyond his work in Stafford, Taylor serves on the College Board's National Superintendent Advisory Council, and is a co-lead for the National STEM Consortium.
This is the second time that Dr. Taylor has been recognized as the VASS Region III Superintendent of the Year. While serving as Superintendent of Middlesex County Public Schools, he was also recognized with this honor in 2016.
Local Obituaries
To view local obituaries or to send a note to family and loved ones, please visit our website at the link that follows.
Weather and Traffic
Support Award-winning, Locally Focused Journalism
In less than a year, FXBG Advance has become the news leader in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Stafford through its innovative mix of:
Twice-daily newsletter - At 6 AM and 5 PM every Monday through Friday, the Advance brings the most important news directly to your inbox.
Education Reporting - Adele Uphaus has won multiple awards for her coverage of education issues locally and across the state. Now, she brings her experience, insights, and expertise to the Advance, providing our citizens some of the finest education writing and reporting in the commonwealth.
Political Reporting - From council meetings to campaigns, and fundraising to finance, the Advance is returning the Fourth Estate to its rightful place as a government watch dog.
Breaking News - From court cases to high-profile government moves, the Advance is the first to inform residents.
Investigative Journalism - Last year, the Advance broke major stories around improperly filed election documents, misleading sample ballots, disenfranchising Spotsylvania Count School parents, and book bans.
Election Coverage - The Advance offered the most complete coverage of the 2023 election, with in-depth candidate profiles, daily tracking of events, leading debates, and pre-dawn to post-midnight Election Day coverage. And 2024 brings even greater coverage.
Spotlights - From local businesses to nonprofit organizations and regional leaders, the Advance brings the people who make things happen to your attention.
Multi-partisan Commentary - Martin Davis is a 20-plus-year journalist recognized for superior commentary and political writing; Shaun Kenney has his hands on the pulse of political leaders across the Commonwealth. Together, they bring an unparalleled level of analysis and insight into the issues that drive debate in our region.
Political Cartoons - Clay Jones is a nationally recognized talent who draws weekly for CNN. He has returned to Fredericksburg to level his critical eye and razor-sharp drawing at the topics which make us both laugh, and look closer at ourselves.
New Dominion Podcast - Each week, Martin Davis and Shaun Kenney interview guests from across the region and the state. Growing to over 1,000 listeners in just six months, NDP has become a leading force in political, cultural, and social discussion.
We thank each and every one of you who have made the Advance a part of your day, and we’re excited to say that more-exciting announcements are just around the corner as we continue to innovate and expand our coverage of the region.
The donations of individual readers have made this year possible. Please join the hundreds who are supporting excellence in journalism by subscribing for just $8 a month.
Where does your money go?
It goes to support the great journalists we have - like Adele Uphaus - and the ones we look to hire in the year ahead.
If you can spare $8 a month, we’ll be both grateful, and reward your trust in us with more journalism, more stories, and more connections to organizations and people who make our region a great place to live.
If you can’t, thank you for reading the FXBG Advance!, and consider sharing us with your friends.
In 2024, let’s build an even better Advance - together!
Thank you for reading and supporting FXBG Advance.
-Martin Davis, Editor-in-Chief
Bright guy, honorable man