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.
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Bright guy, honorable man