By Adam Pagnucco.
MCPS has announced the hiring of Thomas Taylor, who has been the superintendent in Stafford County, Virginia, as its new permanent superintendent. Taylor grew up in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase area and has been the superintendent in Stafford County since November 2021. MCPS’s announcement is reprinted below.
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The Montgomery County Board of Education announced Dr. Thomas Taylor will be appointed superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools. Dr. Taylor is an MCPS alum. The Board will vote on Dr. Taylor’s appointment at their regularly scheduled June 25 business meeting.
Dr. Taylor has more than 25 years of experience as an educator, with more than 12 years in district level leadership and 6 years as a superintendent. He is currently the superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools in Virginia and has an established track record of success as an education leader. Dr. Taylor was named Virginia Region III Superintendent of the Year in 2024, honoring the student-focused work he led in Stafford County.
In addition to his knowledge and skill as an educator, Dr. Taylor holds a Doctorate in Education from University of Virginia and a Masters of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary. The unique marriage of an instructional leader with deep understanding of school finance is a powerful combination in a school leader.
A strong, transformational leader Dr. Taylor cares deeply about Montgomery County where he was raised and educated. He recognizes the challenges facing MCPS and is ready to lead the district forward. “All things begin and end with the culture leadership creates,” Dr. Taylor told the Board during the interview process, emphasizing his dedication to leading with transparency and accountability.
“It is such an honor to serve as your next Superintendent and I would like to thank the Board and community panel for selecting me as their new partner,” Dr. Taylor said. “My family and I are excited to return home to Montgomery County. MCPS has so much to be proud of and yet there is still much to be done to guarantee that every child has access to a great education in our county. I am here to listen and to work collaboratively with our entire community to find solutions that will move Montgomery County and its school district forward.”
The belief that all children deserve access to remarkable learning experiences, characterized by equity, engagement, and support is a guiding principle for Dr. Taylor. In Stafford County, he led a comprehensive approach to student learning. This approach emphasizes the learning environment, effective teaching methods, top-notch curriculum, active engagement, fair assessment, high standards, and tailored support for all students.
Dr. Taylor championed unique opportunities for students to explore career paths while gaining skills and experience. He spearheaded the development of speciality centers that focus on in-demand career opportunities and expanded work-based learning career credentialing for students. Dr. Taylor established a first of its kind program in Virginia to train students to assist with federal income tax preparation for low-income families by securing a partnership with the Internal Revenue Service.
“Dr. Taylor is an experienced superintendent and strong instructional leader,” said Karla Silvestre, president of the Montgomery County Board of Education. “I am confident he will work with students, staff, and the community to make MCPS a system where every child reaches their highest potential.”
For Dr. Taylor, supporting students’ well-being helps them be ready to learn every day. In Stafford County, he secured a partnership with the JED Foundation to address student mental health. He also created a partnership with the Fredericksburg Food Bank to open order-ahead, refrigerated food closets at schools – another first of its kind program in Virginia and only the fifth nationwide.
Understanding the importance of recruiting and retaining high-quality educators, Dr. Taylor has employed innovative strategies to foster teaching and leadership talent. In Chesterfield County, he spearheaded a partnership with the Carnegie Foundation to create a principal talent management system that improved the principal pipeline, retention, and leadership development.
To support and empower teaching staff in Stafford County, Dr. Taylor created an open source curriculum hub where teachers access courses and crowd-sourced teaching materials. He also established a partnership lab school with the University of Mary Washington to train emergent teachers and created a new teacher mentor program.
Dr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Wesleyan University, a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in PK-12 Education Policy from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary. He and his wife, Sue, are the proud parents of five children.
Montgomery County Public Schools is the 15th largest public school district in the U.S. with more than 160,000 students and 25,000 employees.