New Montgomery County Superintendent Aims to Rebuild Trust and Boost Performance

Thomas Taylor, the recently appointed superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), has outlined his vision for addressing key challenges in Maryland's largest school system. With over 200 schools and 160,000 students, MCPS faces issues of trust, academic performance, and safety as the new school year begins.

Taylor's appointment comes after the resignation of former superintendent Monifa B. McKnight earlier in 2024, following concerns about leadership and handling of employee complaints. The school board announced Taylor as the permanent superintendent in June 2024, with an annual salary of $360,000, making him one of the highest-paid school leaders in the state.

For Taylor, this role represents a homecoming, as he is a graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, established in 1926. His previous experience includes serving as superintendent in Stafford County, Virginia, overseeing a district of about 32,000 students.

Since taking the helm, Taylor has engaged with various stakeholders and introduced a six-month entry plan. His goals include hosting town halls and launching a new strategic plan for the 2025-2026 school year. Taylor expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to reset expectations and norms while focusing on students and minimizing distractions.

In discussing his priorities, Taylor highlighted several key areas:

• Literacy instruction, particularly for K-3 students
• School safety measures
• Academic excellence in literacy and mathematics
• Staff retention and recruitment
• Program evaluation for investment efficiency

Taylor acknowledged that the district's Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) scores, first implemented in 2019, need improvement. He emphasized the importance of adopting science-based reading tactics across all grade levels.

Regarding safety, Taylor stressed its paramount importance, stating, "I have won as a superintendent the day that I can tell you instruction is our number one priority. It's not. It's to make sure that our students, staff and visitors have campuses that are safe." He plans to work closely with Chief Marcus Jones to address physical, emotional, and social safety aspects.

The superintendent also mentioned changes in the classroom environment, including adjustments to social media access on the school network. Taylor is assessing central services to optimize task ownership and ensure appropriate school staffing.

In an innovative approach, Taylor plans to have central office staff periodically support school buildings throughout the year. He also emphasized the importance of developing strong school leaders, stating, "Every teacher, every support staff member wants to work for a great leader and wants to work with a great leader. And we want to develop our leaders to be the best in the country."

To build empathy and gain firsthand experience, Taylor committed to substitute teaching and shadowing students in MCPS. He believes this approach will help leaders understand what works and what doesn't from the perspective of students and parents.

Montgomery County, named after American Revolutionary War general Richard Montgomery, has a rich educational history. Founded in 1860, MCPS has been recognized nationally for its high performance and innovative programs. The county itself, with a population of 1,062,061 as of the 2020 census, boasts the highest percentage of residents over 25 with post-graduate degrees in the United States.

As Taylor embarks on his mission to improve MCPS, he faces the challenge of maintaining the county's reputation for educational excellence while addressing current issues. His success will be crucial for the future of education in this important business and research center, home to major U.S. government offices and companies like Lockheed Martin and Marriott International.

"I am so excited at the opportunity, like every educator, the notion of having a fresh start. I think MCPS has wanted to have a fresh start. Our community wants the school system to be fantastic, and we are excited at the opportunity to reset expectations, reset norms and to focus on our kids and limit distractions."