Taylor: “What’s the Worst That Could Happen? They Fire Me?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really dislike Taylor and disagree with most of the decisions he's been making and the way he's been approaching things.

But this email does not bother me.

Cool. Citations please. We’ll wait. Also, be sure they relate directly to posting on DCUM, since that was your claim. TIA.

The email itself doesn’t bother me. But it does hint to him being overwhelmed with the job and not giving two Fs anymore.

Nah, I think he's just being jokey. You gotta say something casual to lighten the mood after you say your "I'm gonna do what I think is right even if they fire me" thing.

My God. The Taylor apologists are capable of the most ridiculous mental gymnastics I've ever seen.

Dr. McKnight would have been nailed at the stake if she said this. But Taylor? Oh, he's just joking. Incredible.

You do understand that Communications Director Chris Cram is personally posting on this thread to make his boss look better.

You realize you have a mental health disorder

One that is fact based. MCPS admin have already been caught posting anonymously.
It is a well known tactic of MCPS and other school systems.

By whom? In your dreams?

In various court documents when MCPS has been sued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like his style.

All Trump supporters do.

DP. I like it too and I voted for Harris, Biden and Obama twice (yes, really. Ask Jeff. I’ve been here for years and have been totally consistent).

Now wipe that egg off your face. It’s not a good look.

With such conviction, why aren’t you in front of the Board of Education giving public comment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adam Pagnucco posted an email that was forwarded to him from a community member who engaged with Taylor after Md. State Senator Cheryl Kagan criticized MCPS and Taylor for their decisions on Wootton. The response to the community member was quite revealing and Pagnucco reprinted it since he felt it revealed something about Taylor's character and/or his state of mind.

SOURCE: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2026/02/23/taylor-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen-they-fire-me/

Taylor’s email to the reader is printed below.

*****

This really means a lot. The data is what the data is – I can’t change it. Politicians who chest-thump is nothing new in Montgomery County. I work for politicians, but I am not one and I also don’t wobble when they fuss (this makes them uncomfortable). Been doing this a long time…what’s the worst that could happen? They fire me? …great! Maybe I’ll get a full night’s sleep for once. 🙂

In all seriousness, the state has no role in this, especially individual legislators. We’ll get through this. And yes – Magruder finally has a clear path! They will be in the next CIP…I just wish it didn’t take so dang long to get stuff done around here.

Again, thanks for reaching out. Onward…!

All my best,

Thomas

Oh, I like him now.
I didn’t really have an opinion of him before, but now...

How is it that all the I love Taylor posts haven't been able to name one thing they like about him except this one email?

The thing they like about him is that he is anti-parent. The people who love Taylor hate the parents and students they're supposed to serve.

I'd give Taylor a mixed review. He's made choices or proposals I support, choices I don't, and choices I have no feeling about because they don't concern me. I think you've nailed his supporters here, at least, with this comment. Look at the person posting in every thread with comments about "Mad Mommies," as if it's inherently insulting to be a parent who has opinions about the schools.

I'm not sold that Taylor himself has this attitude, but the email does give me pause. He talks about the opinions of politicians who "fuss," but the criticism of closing Wootton is coming from politicians because it's how their constituents feel. I don't care about Wootton in particular, but the Superintendent should be responsive to the concerns of parents when making a big change like that. It doesn't necessarily mean making a different choice, but I don't love how it seems like he's thinking about the response to the proposal.

Correct.

In Montgomery County, every decision will have supporters and detractors. That's a given. But Taylor and MCPS typically run afoul by not being transparent, honest and consistent with their own rules and policies.

Taylor is signaling here that he doesn't care about being fair or consistent and believes that he alone knows what's best for everyone.

The politicians are doing their job of advocating on behalf of their constituents. That he doesn't respect the political process and roles and responsibilities of the public and elected officials is troubling.

A sign of a dictator is when they attack politicians for doing their job. Beware of Taylor.

From working in MCPS and hearing stories of how he is in meetings with supervisors who have tried to present data and explain why the changes he's making are a bad idea, this fits exactly. I've been told he has no curiosity for understanding how/why things are the way they are, which could help him pinpoint the actual issues that need changing. Instead, the philosophy is that he knows best and you are gaslit if you say, for example "it's harder to do X job because you cut X positions last year" and the response is just "no, I actually gave more support to X area." Just blatantly false statements that can be debunked by his own budget. However TT and his minions are great at doublespeak and are very insistent that the natural consequences of his choices just haven't happened or couldn't possibly happen. This is why so many people have fled central office positions. Not just people whose positions were cut but people in the mid level who keep the system afloat with their institutional knowledge are over the incompetency. You now have people running things who literally know nothing about their area/programs. I think TT and co see this as a positive to "root out" the naysayers. It's all going to come crashing down eventually when you wind up with no one with any expertise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adam Pagnucco posted an email that was forwarded to him from a community member who engaged with Taylor after Md. State Senator Cheryl Kagan criticized MCPS and Taylor for their decisions on Wootton. The response to the community member was quite revealing and Pagnucco reprinted it since he felt it revealed something about Taylor's character and/or his state of mind.

SOURCE: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2026/02/23/taylor-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen-they-fire-me/

Taylor’s email to the reader is printed below.

*****

This really means a lot. The data is what the data is – I can’t change it. Politicians who chest-thump is nothing new in Montgomery County. I work for politicians, but I am not one and I also don’t wobble when they fuss (this makes them uncomfortable). Been doing this a long time…what’s the worst that could happen? They fire me? …great! Maybe I’ll get a full night’s sleep for once. 🙂

In all seriousness, the state has no role in this, especially individual legislators. We’ll get through this. And yes – Magruder finally has a clear path! They will be in the next CIP…I just wish it didn’t take so dang long to get stuff done around here.

Again, thanks for reaching out. Onward…!

All my best,

Thomas

Oh, I like him now.
I didn’t really have an opinion of him before, but now...

How is it that all the I love Taylor posts haven't been able to name one thing they like about him except this one email?

The thing they like about him is that he is anti-parent. The people who love Taylor hate the parents and students they're supposed to serve.

I'd give Taylor a mixed review. He's made choices or proposals I support, choices I don't, and choices I have no feeling about because they don't concern me. I think you've nailed his supporters here, at least, with this comment. Look at the person posting in every thread with comments about "Mad Mommies," as if it's inherently insulting to be a parent who has opinions about the schools.

I'm not sold that Taylor himself has this attitude, but the email does give me pause. He talks about the opinions of politicians who "fuss," but the criticism of closing Wootton is coming from politicians because it's how their constituents feel. I don't care about Wootton in particular, but the Superintendent should be responsive to the concerns of parents when making a big change like that. It doesn't necessarily mean making a different choice, but I don't love how it seems like he's thinking about the response to the proposal.

Correct.

In Montgomery County, every decision will have supporters and detractors. That's a given. But Taylor and MCPS typically run afoul by not being transparent, honest and consistent with their own rules and policies.

Taylor is signaling here that he doesn't care about being fair or consistent and believes that he alone knows what's best for everyone.

The politicians are doing their job of advocating on behalf of their constituents. That he doesn't respect the political process and roles and responsibilities of the public and elected officials is troubling.

A sign of a dictator is when they attack politicians for doing their job. Beware of Taylor.

From working in MCPS and hearing stories of how he is in meetings with supervisors who have tried to present data and explain why the changes he's making are a bad idea, this fits exactly. I've been told he has no curiosity for understanding how/why things are the way they are, which could help him pinpoint the actual issues that need changing. Instead, the philosophy is that he knows best and you are gaslit if you say, for example "it's harder to do X job because you cut X positions last year" and the response is just "no, I actually gave more support to X area." Just blatantly false statements that can be debunked by his own budget. However TT and his minions are great at doublespeak and are very insistent that the natural consequences of his choices just haven't happened or couldn't possibly happen. This is why so many people have fled central office positions. Not just people whose positions were cut but people in the mid level who keep the system afloat with their institutional knowledge are over the incompetency. You now have people running things who literally know nothing about their area/programs. I think TT and co see this as a positive to "root out" the naysayers. It's all going to come crashing down eventually when you wind up with no one with any expertise!

Ugh, this is awful. Could you share this with Board of Ed members, anonymously if you feel you need to? Don't know if they will listen but they need to hear this.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a move fast and break things, muzzle velocity type of guy. You know the type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adam Pagnucco posted an email that was forwarded to him from a community member who engaged with Taylor after Md. State Senator Cheryl Kagan criticized MCPS and Taylor for their decisions on Wootton. The response to the community member was quite revealing and Pagnucco reprinted it since he felt it revealed something about Taylor's character and/or his state of mind.

SOURCE: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2026/02/23/taylor-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen-they-fire-me/

Taylor’s email to the reader is printed below.

*****

This really means a lot. The data is what the data is – I can’t change it. Politicians who chest-thump is nothing new in Montgomery County. I work for politicians, but I am not one and I also don’t wobble when they fuss (this makes them uncomfortable). Been doing this a long time…what’s the worst that could happen? They fire me? …great! Maybe I’ll get a full night’s sleep for once. 🙂

In all seriousness, the state has no role in this, especially individual legislators. We’ll get through this. And yes – Magruder finally has a clear path! They will be in the next CIP…I just wish it didn’t take so dang long to get stuff done around here.

Again, thanks for reaching out. Onward…!

All my best,

Thomas

Oh, I like him now.
I didn’t really have an opinion of him before, but now...

How is it that all the I love Taylor posts haven't been able to name one thing they like about him except this one email?

The thing they like about him is that he is anti-parent. The people who love Taylor hate the parents and students they're supposed to serve.

I'd give Taylor a mixed review. He's made choices or proposals I support, choices I don't, and choices I have no feeling about because they don't concern me. I think you've nailed his supporters here, at least, with this comment. Look at the person posting in every thread with comments about "Mad Mommies," as if it's inherently insulting to be a parent who has opinions about the schools.

I'm not sold that Taylor himself has this attitude, but the email does give me pause. He talks about the opinions of politicians who "fuss," but the criticism of closing Wootton is coming from politicians because it's how their constituents feel. I don't care about Wootton in particular, but the Superintendent should be responsive to the concerns of parents when making a big change like that. It doesn't necessarily mean making a different choice, but I don't love how it seems like he's thinking about the response to the proposal.

Correct.

In Montgomery County, every decision will have supporters and detractors. That's a given. But Taylor and MCPS typically run afoul by not being transparent, honest and consistent with their own rules and policies.

Taylor is signaling here that he doesn't care about being fair or consistent and believes that he alone knows what's best for everyone.

The politicians are doing their job of advocating on behalf of their constituents. That he doesn't respect the political process and roles and responsibilities of the public and elected officials is troubling.

A sign of a dictator is when they attack politicians for doing their job. Beware of Taylor.

From working in MCPS and hearing stories of how he is in meetings with supervisors who have tried to present data and explain why the changes he's making are a bad idea, this fits exactly. I've been told he has no curiosity for understanding how/why things are the way they are, which could help him pinpoint the actual issues that need changing. Instead, the philosophy is that he knows best and you are gaslit if you say, for example "it's harder to do X job because you cut X positions last year" and the response is just "no, I actually gave more support to X area." Just blatantly false statements that can be debunked by his own budget. However TT and his minions are great at doublespeak and are very insistent that the natural consequences of his choices just haven't happened or couldn't possibly happen. This is why so many people have fled central office positions. Not just people whose positions were cut but people in the mid level who keep the system afloat with their institutional knowledge are over the incompetency. You now have people running things who literally know nothing about their area/programs. I think TT and co see this as a positive to "root out" the naysayers. It's all going to come crashing down eventually when you wind up with no one with any expertise!

This has been happening for years if not decades. We had multiple really good directors leave for other school systems or nonprofit jobs under Smith and McKnight. MCPS has been promoting crony ass-kissers to central office for a long time. I have no idea whether the ones leaving now are good or duds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adam Pagnucco posted an email that was forwarded to him from a community member who engaged with Taylor after Md. State Senator Cheryl Kagan criticized MCPS and Taylor for their decisions on Wootton. The response to the community member was quite revealing and Pagnucco reprinted it since he felt it revealed something about Taylor's character and/or his state of mind.

SOURCE: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2026/02/23/taylor-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen-they-fire-me/

Taylor’s email to the reader is printed below.

*****

This really means a lot. The data is what the data is – I can’t change it. Politicians who chest-thump is nothing new in Montgomery County. I work for politicians, but I am not one and I also don’t wobble when they fuss (this makes them uncomfortable). Been doing this a long time…what’s the worst that could happen? They fire me? …great! Maybe I’ll get a full night’s sleep for once. 🙂

In all seriousness, the state has no role in this, especially individual legislators. We’ll get through this. And yes – Magruder finally has a clear path! They will be in the next CIP…I just wish it didn’t take so dang long to get stuff done around here.

Again, thanks for reaching out. Onward…!

All my best,

Thomas

Oh, I like him now.
I didn’t really have an opinion of him before, but now...

How is it that all the I love Taylor posts haven't been able to name one thing they like about him except this one email?

The thing they like about him is that he is anti-parent. The people who love Taylor hate the parents and students they're supposed to serve.

I'd give Taylor a mixed review. He's made choices or proposals I support, choices I don't, and choices I have no feeling about because they don't concern me. I think you've nailed his supporters here, at least, with this comment. Look at the person posting in every thread with comments about "Mad Mommies," as if it's inherently insulting to be a parent who has opinions about the schools.

I'm not sold that Taylor himself has this attitude, but the email does give me pause. He talks about the opinions of politicians who "fuss," but the criticism of closing Wootton is coming from politicians because it's how their constituents feel. I don't care about Wootton in particular, but the Superintendent should be responsive to the concerns of parents when making a big change like that. It doesn't necessarily mean making a different choice, but I don't love how it seems like he's thinking about the response to the proposal.

Correct.

In Montgomery County, every decision will have supporters and detractors. That's a given. But Taylor and MCPS typically run afoul by not being transparent, honest and consistent with their own rules and policies.

Taylor is signaling here that he doesn't care about being fair or consistent and believes that he alone knows what's best for everyone.

The politicians are doing their job of advocating on behalf of their constituents. That he doesn't respect the political process and roles and responsibilities of the public and elected officials is troubling.

A sign of a dictator is when they attack politicians for doing their job. Beware of Taylor.

From working in MCPS and hearing stories of how he is in meetings with supervisors who have tried to present data and explain why the changes he's making are a bad idea, this fits exactly. I've been told he has no curiosity for understanding how/why things are the way they are, which could help him pinpoint the actual issues that need changing. Instead, the philosophy is that he knows best and you are gaslit if you say, for example "it's harder to do X job because you cut X positions last year" and the response is just "no, I actually gave more support to X area." Just blatantly false statements that can be debunked by his own budget. However TT and his minions are great at doublespeak and are very insistent that the natural consequences of his choices just haven't happened or couldn't possibly happen. This is why so many people have fled central office positions. Not just people whose positions were cut but people in the mid level who keep the system afloat with their institutional knowledge are over the incompetency. You now have people running things who literally know nothing about their area/programs. I think TT and co see this as a positive to "root out" the naysayers. It's all going to come crashing down eventually when you wind up with no one with any expertise!

This has been happening for years if not decades. We had multiple really good directors leave for other school systems or nonprofit jobs under Smith and McKnight. MCPS has been promoting crony ass-kissers to central office for a long time. I have no idea whether the ones leaving now are good or duds.

I'm not talking about directors, I'm talking about the people underneath who do all the actual work. People have written to the board and council and either get no response or they buy what TT says wholesale.

[Anonymous]

Reading a lot of innuendo and opinions, but not a lot of facts that speak badly for Taylor. Honestly, I think he's doing a good job.

Go fish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adam Pagnucco posted an email that was forwarded to him from a community member who engaged with Taylor after Md. State Senator Cheryl Kagan criticized MCPS and Taylor for their decisions on Wootton. The response to the community member was quite revealing and Pagnucco reprinted it since he felt it revealed something about Taylor's character and/or his state of mind.

SOURCE: https://montgomeryperspective.com/2026/02/23/taylor-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen-they-fire-me/

Taylor’s email to the reader is printed below.

*****

This really means a lot. The data is what the data is – I can’t change it. Politicians who chest-thump is nothing new in Montgomery County. I work for politicians, but I am not one and I also don’t wobble when they fuss (this makes them uncomfortable). Been doing this a long time…what’s the worst that could happen? They fire me? …great! Maybe I’ll get a full night’s sleep for once. 🙂

In all seriousness, the state has no role in this, especially individual legislators. We’ll get through this. And yes – Magruder finally has a clear path! They will be in the next CIP…I just wish it didn’t take so dang long to get stuff done around here.

Again, thanks for reaching out. Onward…!

All my best,

Thomas

Oh, I like him now.
I didn’t really have an opinion of him before, but now...

How is it that all the I love Taylor posts haven't been able to name one thing they like about him except this one email?

The thing they like about him is that he is anti-parent. The people who love Taylor hate the parents and students they're supposed to serve.

I'd give Taylor a mixed review. He's made choices or proposals I support, choices I don't, and choices I have no feeling about because they don't concern me. I think you've nailed his supporters here, at least, with this comment. Look at the person posting in every thread with comments about "Mad Mommies," as if it's inherently insulting to be a parent who has opinions about the schools.

I'm not sold that Taylor himself has this attitude, but the email does give me pause. He talks about the opinions of politicians who "fuss," but the criticism of closing Wootton is coming from politicians because it's how their constituents feel. I don't care about Wootton in particular, but the Superintendent should be responsive to the concerns of parents when making a big change like that. It doesn't necessarily mean making a different choice, but I don't love how it seems like he's thinking about the response to the proposal.

Correct.

In Montgomery County, every decision will have supporters and detractors. That's a given. But Taylor and MCPS typically run afoul by not being transparent, honest and consistent with their own rules and policies.

Taylor is signaling here that he doesn't care about being fair or consistent and believes that he alone knows what's best for everyone.

The politicians are doing their job of advocating on behalf of their constituents. That he doesn't respect the political process and roles and responsibilities of the public and elected officials is troubling.

A sign of a dictator is when they attack politicians for doing their job. Beware of Taylor.

From working in MCPS and hearing stories of how he is in meetings with supervisors who have tried to present data and explain why the changes he's making are a bad idea, this fits exactly. I've been told he has no curiosity for understanding how/why things are the way they are, which could help him pinpoint the actual issues that need changing. Instead, the philosophy is that he knows best and you are gaslit if you say, for example "it's harder to do X job because you cut X positions last year" and the response is just "no, I actually gave more support to X area." Just blatantly false statements that can be debunked by his own budget. However TT and his minions are great at doublespeak and are very insistent that the natural consequences of his choices just haven't happened or couldn't possibly happen. This is why so many people have fled central office positions. Not just people whose positions were cut but people in the mid level who keep the system afloat with their institutional knowledge are over the incompetency. You now have people running things who literally know nothing about their area/programs. I think TT and co see this as a positive to "root out" the naysayers. It's all going to come crashing down eventually when you wind up with no one with any expertise!

As I feared, Taylor is building acolytes and intolerant of facts, substance and common sense. It’s sad, but the BOE lets him get away with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly this makes me like him more. I like that he’s not afraid to challenge the politicians and wont roll over for them.

He won’t roll over for the Board of Education, the State Board of Education, the Inspector General or the Maryland Courts. No one is going to tell him what to do and laws don’t apply. Brilliant.

NP. That's not what I took away from his statement. I think that when we have someone who can't think but rather only reacts to politicians and groups who think they have special influence, we don't have free thinkers. I am a fan. He has a backbone. He realizes he won't make everyone happy. But he's trying to do what he thinks is best for our kids and community given the resources he has at his disposal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading a lot of innuendo and opinions, but not a lot of facts that speak badly for Taylor. Honestly, I think he's doing a good job.

Go fish.

Everyone is wrong and he’s right. Yeah, that’s it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly this makes me like him more. I like that he’s not afraid to challenge the politicians and wont roll over for them.

He won’t roll over for the Board of Education, the State Board of Education, the Inspector General or the Maryland Courts. No one is going to tell him what to do and laws don’t apply. Brilliant.

NP. That's not what I took away from his statement. I think that when we have someone who can't think but rather only reacts to politicians and groups who think they have special influence, we don't have free thinkers. I am a fan. He has a backbone. He realizes he won't make everyone happy. But he's trying to do what he thinks is best for our kids and community given the resources he has at his disposal.

What, praytell, has he done that is better for our kids? As for community, are you kidding me? The number one complaint about the main is that he ignores community feedback and pays lip service to community engagement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly this makes me like him more. I like that he’s not afraid to challenge the politicians and wont roll over for them.

He won’t roll over for the Board of Education, the State Board of Education, the Inspector General or the Maryland Courts. No one is going to tell him what to do and laws don’t apply. Brilliant.

NP. That's not what I took away from his statement. I think that when we have someone who can't think but rather only reacts to politicians and groups who think they have special influence, we don't have free thinkers. I am a fan. He has a backbone. He realizes he won't make everyone happy. But he's trying to do what he thinks is best for our kids and community given the resources he has at his disposal.

Yeah, and that’s exactly his biggest issue. He insists on what he believes is right, and ignores inputs from people he is supposed to bring benefit about and firmly believes that anyone who disagrees with him comes with an evil political agenda. In addition, he avoids attending important meetings to avoid direct confrontation, or duct or falsify make-believe data. These all fit in a typical Narcissistic avoidant personality.

[Anonymous]

We are lucky we have Dr. Taylor as our Superintendent. You Karen and Chads are annoying and don't remember how bad it was. This is really good now!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like his style.

All Trump supporters do.

DP. I like it too and I voted for Harris, Biden and Obama twice (yes, really. Ask Jeff. I’ve been here for years and have been totally consistent).

Now wipe that egg off your face. It’s not a good look.

With such conviction, why aren’t you in front of the Board of Education giving public comment?

Why aren't you?