Dr. Taylor to retire December 1
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 13, 2014 1:46 PM
Wayne County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor has given his notice -- he will retire Dec. 1.
Taylor met with school board members individually earlier in the week, then announced his plans to his leadership team, central office staff and administrators Wednesday afternoon.
But this was not the first overture he had made about retiring. Back in April 2013 he gathered the same group together and said his intent was to retire July 1 of that year, giving the board almost three months lead time to advertise and interview a replacement.
One month later, though, he withdrew the retirement paperwork and said he had decided to stay on for an undetermined amount of a time. A search had begun for a new superintendent but no formal action had been taken by the school board.
At the time, he said his desire was to continue until the district's two newest schools were completed. Target date for opening the middle schools in Grantham and Spring Creek is the fall of 2015.
This past July, he said he had one year left on his contract and intended to fulfill that obligation.
In the meantime, this year has become one of departures for those who have worked closely with the superintendent -- via retirement, death and the recent election.
Three leadership team members have retired in 2014, with the latest, Dr. Sandra McCullen, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction, recently announcing her retirement date will be Dec. 1.
The two remaining school board members from the original board responsible for hiring Taylor also departed -- Thelma Smith passed away in March and John P. Grantham, current chairman, lost his bid for the seat in the recent election.
None of those prompted the abrupt announcement, though, he said.
It was simply time.
"I don't know how to describe it," he said Wednesday evening. "When you get to the point of retirement, you just know. I knew the time was right."
Taylor said he felt he had had his season and there was no major issue that contributed to his decision.
"When you try to retire, then of course rumors start flying but there's no personal problems or issues," he said. "I have no health issues. The board did not ask me to retire. In fact, for some time I had not asked for an extension (on my contract). All seven told me they would give me an extension for an additional year.
"And I certainly did not retire because of the election. I have worked with 15 different board members and I'm used to doing that over the years."
At the gathering at central office, he opened up with a Scripture, II Timothy 4:7 -- "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith."
"I told them I wasn't going to preach," he said with a laugh.
And laughter was woven into the proceedings, with Taylor making several references to the previous false starts on his retirement. He told his staff this time there will be no follow-up story about him changing his mind -- "This is my final answer," he joked.
"I have had a very satisfying career," he said. "To me it's been the pinnacle of my career to serve as the superintendent of the 20th largest school district in the state.
"I've had 15 different board members in 15 years. I have always enjoyed the majority support. For most of that time it's been 100 percent support. I certainly appreciate the board support, which made my job a lot easier."
He praised the administration, staff and teachers for their role in moving the district forward and said he believed the board will select a good replacement.
Taylor said he will leave with mixed emotions, but looks forward to the next chapter. At the outset, there is no job offer pending, but he admitted he has been approached about going into politics.
"I had always said that when I retired from public education, I might want to go into higher ed," he said. "As I told my people today, the field is open as far as I'm concerned as far as options. I'm not going to go home and do nothing."
The superintendent was hired to the role in 2000, at age 42. He turns 57 next month.
A 1976 graduate of Charles B. Aycock High School, he began his career in education in 1980, as a driver's education teacher with Tarboro City Schools. Four years later, he earned his doctorate in curriculum and instruction at Michigan State University. He became WCPS director of transportation in 1985 and went on to serve as a principal, assistant superintendent, personnel assistant and director of personnel services.