Superintendent Taylor

[Anonymous]

New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

[Anonymous]

Superintendent Taylor doesn't care about virtual people!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Superintendent Taylor doesn't care about virtual people!!!

A lot of central office works virtually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

Its a good idea but most of them are just paper pushers and cannot offer much help. I love how he says he has a lot of work to do. He needs to stop with the publicity tour and get to work and focus on change and improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

Its a good idea but most of them are just paper pushers and cannot offer much help. I love how he says he has a lot of work to do. He needs to stop with the publicity tour and get to work and focus on change and improvement.

Doesn't he need to do some publicity first? So when he arrives at a school or office people don't say "who are you??"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

Its a good idea but most of them are just paper pushers and cannot offer much help. I love how he says he has a lot of work to do. He needs to stop with the publicity tour and get to work and focus on change and improvement.

Doesn't he need to do some publicity first? So when he arrives at a school or office people don't say "who are you??"

He is trying to promote positivity, good, lighthearted vibes to start the year. He knows he has much to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

Its a good idea but most of them are just paper pushers and cannot offer much help. I love how he says he has a lot of work to do. He needs to stop with the publicity tour and get to work and focus on change and improvement.

Doesn't he need to do some publicity first? So when he arrives at a school or office people don't say "who are you??"

Everyone knows who he is. I would say he should do the work first and then do the publicity tour.

He’s also not answering very difficult questions or articulating many deep or substantive answers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

Its a good idea but most of them are just paper pushers and cannot offer much help. I love how he says he has a lot of work to do. He needs to stop with the publicity tour and get to work and focus on change and improvement.

Doesn't he need to do some publicity first? So when he arrives at a school or office people don't say "who are you??"

No, he needs to start fixing things. Better to be known as the man who fixed MCPS vs. some cute fun videos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

Its a good idea but most of them are just paper pushers and cannot offer much help. I love how he says he has a lot of work to do. He needs to stop with the publicity tour and get to work and focus on change and improvement.

Doesn't he need to do some publicity first? So when he arrives at a school or office people don't say "who are you??"

Everyone knows who he is. I would say he should do the work first and then do the publicity tour.

He’s also not answering very difficult questions or articulating many deep or substantive answers.

No, but I don't think he has the ability or power to as he's controlled by the BOE. He's a charismatic man who can put on a good show. The BOE folks are generally cold and hostile.

[Anonymous]

Taylor is just a stooge for MC to get more rich off MCPS students.

[Anonymous]

Sue me, I actually liked that Q&A. I saw mention either explicitly or by inference of school safety, making central office people get their hands dirty in actual school buildings, and trying to figure out and address what is wrong that they can't retain staff. He admitted that there's stuff they have to get in order before he can only talk about academics. He admitted there's a big trust issue.

Maybe it's lip service. But this echoes a lot of what I think and a lot of what I've heard as concerns from others, and it at least makes me think that he is listening. The first step to solving problems is identifying them. Yes, there's a lot beyond that he'll have to do and has shown nothing yet, but we never even got to Step 1 with McKnight, so at least it's something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Post interview with Taylor, with some notable quotes about central office:

"I have a lot of work to do in terms of assessing the central services. I really want to get a good handle of what tasks we really need to have ownership in and what tasks are probably better divesting ourselves of."

"Something a little different this year — we are asking some of our central office staff to be in school buildings at the start of the school year and then periodically throughout the school year to spend some time supporting the schools. Candidly, we’re differentiating that support based on schools that express a desire or a need."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/09/01/montgomery-superintendent-thomas-taylor/

I guess this sounds good in theory. No idea what this means will truly be different in practice, because many of the people in CO lack skill and competence.

How is that different exactly? There were math coaches, reading related folks, and PCC in school buildings last year. Maybe he means different people like Principal supervisors or training folk?
This isn’t enough detail to be meaningful.

The reality is he realizes it’s going to take a while to make it around to each and every school. Plus there is a bunch he needs to get up to speed on as the budget planning is starting and a new strategic plan is due. And if he didn’t know it before, it’s become real clear that folks aren’t planning to give him a honeymoon period, so he’s asking for 6months to a year of space/grace from the BOE and everyone else.to be okay wi

[Anonymous]

The MVA folks have proven to be even crazier than the craziest of the “open schools during the lockdown” folks.

Who would’ve ever guessed that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The MVA folks have proven to be even crazier than the craziest of the “open schools during the lockdown” folks.

Who would’ve ever guessed that?

You are the crazy one obsessing over it. They are advocating for their kids.