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

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

He sounds a little unhinged. He just started this job and is already talking about leaving while in the middle of upending so many things in MCPS and he'll never have to face the consequences. Yuck.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

+1 who wouldn't think this is awesome s/

[Anonymous]

He sounds like he had no idea exactly what a monster he was walking into by taking this job, with all the politics, nepotism, and hysterical loony parents. This isn't little Stafford County.

This is the first time I've felt a slight sense of empathy for him. No one sane would want this job. The systems are too big, the problematic admins and their minions have wormed their tentacles in for 30+ years and no one superintendent can tease it all out, and a significant minority of the parents in this county are utterly vile.

I don't like him, but the perfect candidate isn't out there. Because again, nobody decent wants this job.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe he was dumb enough to put that in writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He sounds like he had no idea exactly what a monster he was walking into by taking this job, with all the politics, nepotism, and hysterical loony parents. This isn't little Stafford County.

This is the first time I've felt a slight sense of empathy for him. No one sane would want this job. The systems are too big, the problematic admins and their minions have wormed their tentacles in for 30+ years and no one superintendent can tease it all out, and a significant minority of the parents in this county are utterly vile.

I don't like him, but the perfect candidate isn't out there. Because again, nobody decent wants this job.

Nobody decent gets offered this job when failing up is the norm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He sounds like he had no idea exactly what a monster he was walking into by taking this job, with all the politics, nepotism, and hysterical loony parents. This isn't little Stafford County.

This is the first time I've felt a slight sense of empathy for him. No one sane would want this job. The systems are too big, the problematic admins and their minions have wormed their tentacles in for 30+ years and no one superintendent can tease it all out, and a significant minority of the parents in this county are utterly vile.

I don't like him, but the perfect candidate isn't out there. Because again, nobody decent wants this job.

Says who? The BOE keeps the candidates a secret. We know from the past that some candidates went on to lead other huge public school systems in the US and were very successful.

[Anonymous]

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.

Same here. His reply was honest.

[Anonymous]

I like his style.

[Anonymous]

He's going to make mistakes and he likely understands that but he's got enough integrity it seems like to own those mistakes rather than be a puppet and take orders from higher up.

I'd be more afraid of a guy who always has too perfect of a reply and response when things go wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like his style.

All Trump supporters do.

[Anonymous]

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

Love Taylor so much. What a complete badass who keeps things in perspective and does the right thing.

[Anonymous]

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

Love Taylor so much. What a complete badass who keeps things in perspective and does the right thing.

Where were kids mentioned in his response? Is there something deleted? The worst thing that can happen is the public school education of our children collapses and children are denied an education.