Superintendent Taylor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps optics will be his focus as seems to be for this district, esp after the last year.

Who are leading teams under him? Someone had posted CO positions on here before.

Eight chief positions are all now reporting directly to Taylor, as is the general counsel.

Chief of Staff (vacant)
Chief of School Support and Improvement Peter Moran
Chief Academic Officer Peggy Pugh
Chief of Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Sheron
Chief of District Operations Dana Edwards
Chief of Human Resources and Development April Key
Acting Chief Financial Office Ivon Alfonso-Windsor
Chief of Security and Compliance Marcus Jones
General Counsel Stephanie Williams

new org chart for FY25:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He met with disappointed MVA families recently.

And, he promised follow-up and more support and the MVA familes have not heard back from him and multiple kids still don't have updated IEP's or new placements as promised.

He has done absolutely nothing in the past four weeks but photo ops. He works for the BOE and they are running the show, not him. His opinion and willingness to help doesn't matter.

He has done nothing to address the safety issues, curriculum issues, MVA, behavior in schools, and budget issues - in terms of schools and teachers getting what they need, and supporting struggling students.

I haven't heard of any instances of student safety issues in the last 4 weeks, nor have I heard of any behavioral issues from students during that time either. He's done nothing to address the MVA because there is nothing to address - the BOE terminated the program and those parents are going to complain no matter what. And as for the budget, I don't even want to try to come up with what you think he's responsible for fixing on that front in his first 4 weeks on the job - is he supposed to be out there digging for pots of gold so he can push more money toward MCPS without the County Council's involvement?

School is not in session. (Aside from summer school, of which the vast majority are doing online rather than in-person). So how is this relevant?

The PP is saying Dr. Taylor should be working on improving and enhancing safety and security, which would mean developing and working on plans that can be implemented in the upcoming school year which starts in about 3 and a half weeks.

Oh ok. And you know he’s not doing this how exactly?

Presumably the PP who said he wasn’t doing anything is an insider at MCPS who is privy to his activities or is not seeing evidence of him working on the issue.

Don’t you know that everyone is an ‘insider’ on DCUM.

LOL some here are either insiders or crazy obsessed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps optics will be his focus as seems to be for this district, esp after the last year.

Who are leading teams under him? Someone had posted CO positions on here before.

Eight chief positions are all now reporting directly to Taylor, as is the general counsel.

Chief of Staff (vacant)

Chief of School Support and Improvement Peter Moran: what are this dude's duties?

Chief Academic Officer Peggy Pugh: what
are the duties, what are they responsible for?

Chief of Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Sheron: same, what are this person's duties?

Chief of District Operations Dana Edwards: this person's duties?

Chief of Human Resources and Development April Key

Acting Chief Financial Office Ivon Alfonso-Windsor

Chief of Security and Compliance Marcus Jones

General Counsel Stephanie Williams

new org chart for FY25:

[img]

So, does
Pugh oversee curriculum?
Jones: security? Does he manage CEOs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps optics will be his focus as seems to be for this district, esp after the last year.

Who are leading teams under him? Someone had posted CO positions on here before.

Eight chief positions are all now reporting directly to Taylor, as is the general counsel.

Chief of Staff (vacant)

Chief of School Support and Improvement Peter Moran: what are this dude's duties?

Chief Academic Officer Peggy Pugh: what
are the duties, what are they responsible for?

Chief of Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Sheron: same, what are this person's duties?

Chief of District Operations Dana Edwards: this person's duties?

Chief of Human Resources and Development April Key

Acting Chief Financial Office Ivon Alfonso-Windsor

Chief of Security and Compliance Marcus Jones

General Counsel Stephanie Williams

new org chart for FY25:

[img]

So, does
Pugh oversee curriculum?
Jones: security? Does he manage CEOs?

You can find their job descriptions here:

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/personnel/classification/descriptions/index.aspx?ix=ac

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He popped into the elementary teacher's summer training for the new literacy curriculum. We were working in small groups in various classrooms with trainers. He basically just chatted with a few people, wished us a good rest of our day and moved on to the next room. The general response from teachers was that it was nice to see him in person and we were grateful that he didn't turn it into a photo op for him.

Cameras weren't there but this sounds like nothing more than a PR stunt, since he added nothing of substance or value.

It's part of his job to show up. Did you want him to actually sit next to teachers, hold their hands and provide "value" for a literacy curriculum he was not in charge of bringing nor does he probably know a whole lot about it in detail like the revered teachers?

Yes actually since this curriculum is rolling all to all ES in the fall and uptake of it needs to be quick so that student reading numbers improve. So having the Superintendent sit there for a time a learn all about how this curriculum is going to address Science of Reading and help teachers help kids learn to read would be actually valuable. He could hear any questions or concerns they express.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps optics will be his focus as seems to be for this district, esp after the last year.

Who are leading teams under him? Someone had posted CO positions on here before.

Eight chief positions are all now reporting directly to Taylor, as is the general counsel.

Chief of Staff (vacant)
Chief of School Support and Improvement Peter Moran
Chief Academic Officer Peggy Pugh
Chief of Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Sheron
Chief of District Operations Dana Edwards
Chief of Human Resources and Development April Key
Acting Chief Financial Office Ivon Alfonso-Windsor
Chief of Security and Compliance Marcus Jones
General Counsel Stephanie Williams

new org chart for FY25:

Is this a significant change? Obvs there is no Deputy Superintendent to report to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps optics will be his focus as seems to be for this district, esp after the last year.

Who are leading teams under him? Someone had posted CO positions on here before.

Eight chief positions are all now reporting directly to Taylor, as is the general counsel.

Chief of Staff (vacant)
Chief of School Support and Improvement Peter Moran
Chief Academic Officer Peggy Pugh
Chief of Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Sheron
Chief of District Operations Dana Edwards
Chief of Human Resources and Development April Key
Acting Chief Financial Office Ivon Alfonso-Windsor
Chief of Security and Compliance Marcus Jones
General Counsel Stephanie Williams

new org chart for FY25:

Is this a significant change? Obvs there is no Deputy Superintendent to report to.

Right, no more deputy super and no chief operating officer, the two positions which the chiefs used to report to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He popped into the elementary teacher's summer training for the new literacy curriculum. We were working in small groups in various classrooms with trainers. He basically just chatted with a few people, wished us a good rest of our day and moved on to the next room. The general response from teachers was that it was nice to see him in person and we were grateful that he didn't turn it into a photo op for him.

Cameras weren't there but this sounds like nothing more than a PR stunt, since he added nothing of substance or value.

It's part of his job to show up. Did you want him to actually sit next to teachers, hold their hands and provide "value" for a literacy curriculum he was not in charge of bringing nor does he probably know a whole lot about it in detail like the revered teachers?

Yes actually since this curriculum is rolling all to all ES in the fall and uptake of it needs to be quick so that student reading numbers improve. So having the Superintendent sit there for a time a learn all about how this curriculum is going to address Science of Reading and help teachers help kids learn to read would be actually valuable. He could hear any questions or concerns they express.

On his walk through? Typically Supers are not going to look at the details of that curriculum. Eventually he should know the curriculums for all areas but he is not going to know it like a teacher, lead teaxher- staff development person, school admin etc.. Look at org chart posted up thread. If they don't already, the person who oversees curriculum could be in the training room with teachers doing what you request above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He popped into the elementary teacher's summer training for the new literacy curriculum. We were working in small groups in various classrooms with trainers. He basically just chatted with a few people, wished us a good rest of our day and moved on to the next room. The general response from teachers was that it was nice to see him in person and we were grateful that he didn't turn it into a photo op for him.

Cameras weren't there but this sounds like nothing more than a PR stunt, since he added nothing of substance or value.

It's part of his job to show up. Did you want him to actually sit next to teachers, hold their hands and provide "value" for a literacy curriculum he was not in charge of bringing nor does he probably know a whole lot about it in detail like the revered teachers?

Yes actually since this curriculum is rolling all to all ES in the fall and uptake of it needs to be quick so that student reading numbers improve. So having the Superintendent sit there for a time a learn all about how this curriculum is going to address Science of Reading and help teachers help kids learn to read would be actually valuable. He could hear any questions or concerns they express.

On his walk through? Typically Supers are not going to look at the details of that curriculum. Eventually he should know the curriculums for all areas but he is not going to know it like a teacher, lead teaxher- staff development person, school admin etc.. Look at org chart posted up thread. If they don't already, the person who oversees curriculum could be in the training room with teachers doing what you request above.

NP. Right, he’s not going to have the in depth knowledge a teacher might have but that’s not his main job. I like that he is present out of CO meeting staff and seeing what is happening even if he doesn’t look like he is doing anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps optics will be his focus as seems to be for this district, esp after the last year.

Who are leading teams under him? Someone had posted CO positions on here before.

Eight chief positions are all now reporting directly to Taylor, as is the general counsel.

Chief of Staff (vacant)
Chief of School Support and Improvement Peter Moran
Chief Academic Officer Peggy Pugh
Chief of Strategic Initiatives Stephanie Sheron
Chief of District Operations Dana Edwards
Chief of Human Resources and Development April Key
Acting Chief Financial Office Ivon Alfonso-Windsor
Chief of Security and Compliance Marcus Jones
General Counsel Stephanie Williams

new org chart for FY25:

Is this a significant change? Obvs there is no Deputy Superintendent to report to.

Right, no more deputy super and no chief operating officer, the two positions which the chiefs used to report to.

And Jones reporting directly to Taylor is a change from the previous hierarchy.

[Anonymous]

During the hiring process, did prospective Supers ask for Jones to be in charge of that area? Who was the old Jones if there was that position before he was hired?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During the hiring process, did prospective Supers ask for Jones to be in charge of that area? Who was the old Jones if there was that position before he was hired?

The previous chief safety officer was Pam Wheeler-Taylor. She reported to Dana Edwards, District Operations, who reported into then-COO Brian Hull.

Before Wheeler-Taylor, Ed Clarke held the position for many years. He was fired, however, for failing to report serious incidents: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/breaking-mcps-chief-safety-officer-ed.html?m=1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:During the hiring process, did prospective Supers ask for Jones to be in charge of that area? Who was the old Jones if there was that position before he was hired?

The previous chief safety officer was Pam Wheeler-Taylor. She reported to Dana Edwards, District Operations, who reported into then-COO Brian Hull.

Before Wheeler-Taylor, Ed Clarke held the position for many years. He was fired, however, for failing to report serious incidents: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/breaking-mcps-chief-safety-officer-ed.html?m=1

Clarke was chief safety officer for not quite five years, starting in 2018.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8222&type=2018&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode=action

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:During the hiring process, did prospective Supers ask for Jones to be in charge of that area? Who was the old Jones if there was that position before he was hired?

The previous chief safety officer was Pam Wheeler-Taylor. She reported to Dana Edwards, District Operations, who reported into then-COO Brian Hull.

Before Wheeler-Taylor, Ed Clarke held the position for many years. He was fired, however, for failing to report serious incidents: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2023/08/breaking-mcps-chief-safety-officer-ed.html?m=1

Clarke was chief safety officer for not quite five years, starting in 2018.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/press/index.aspx?pagetype=showrelease&id=8222&type=2018&startYear=&pageNumber=&mode=action

That was second time he worked for MCPS.

[Anonymous]

What's wrong with this guy? Why hasn't he fixed MCPS already!?!?