Ocean City's Taylor Named State Superintendent Of The Year

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Taylor has been named New Jersey’s Superintendent of the Year. Taylor is now the state’s candidate for the American Association of School Administrators' (AASA) National Superintendent of the Year Award, the New Jersey Association of School Administrators (NJASA) announced.

The National Superintendent of the Year program, now in its 31st year and sponsored by First Student, VALIC, and AASA, pays tribute to the talent and vision of the men and women who lead the nation’s public schools. AASA will announce the National Superintendent of the Year at its Annual Conference on Education in February of 2018.

"I have been blessed with a challenging and rewarding career that has taken me from the classroom to the principal’s office to my role as superintendent of a high-achieving district in an idyllic community,” Taylor said. “But regardless of my role, responsibilities or district I serve, I never lose sight of what drew me to and ignited my passion for education – the students whose lives we as educators are privileged to touch and share."

Taylor will be recognized by the New Jersey State Board of Education at a Recognition Ceremony on Dec. 6 at the New Jersey Department of Education’s headquarters in Trenton.

"Kathy Taylor is a dedicated, hard-working professional who continually strives to improve the quality of education for all students,” NJASA Executive Director Dr. Richard G. Bozza said. “She is a remarkable chief education officer with vision, imagination, and compassion for the students she serves. Her accomplishments exemplify what every chief education officer should achieve."

This is the second statewide award the Ocean City School District has won this year. In October, Amy Andersen was named the New Jersey Teacher of the Year.

"The success of Taylor and Anderson is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire district in serving our youth," Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian said in a statement Thursday afternoon. "The exceptional quality of our schools is one of Ocean City’s biggest assets as a year-round community. I want to thank these two educators and all their colleagues for their commitment."

Taylor, who was named the Region III Superintendent of the Year last month, has been a school administrator for 24 years. She has made closing the achievement gap a goal for the district, and the district considers this when evaluating teachers, administrators and the superintendent. Individual student scores are analyzed, intervention strategies are developed, and support schedules are arranged to aid students as part of the strategy.

Taylor has also actively engaged the students’ parents in ways that can help their children. Her leadership encouraged a partnership between the educators and parents that enables students to grow academically, and as a result work on closing the achievement gap.

"As a superintendent, I may no longer be in the classroom, but I strive to be sure we have the right folks in the classroom. Educators who believe in themselves, are passionate about their careers and, in turn, nurture and encourage every child to find his or her unique path to independence and happiness," Taylor said.

"From the preschoolers taking their first tentative steps into the classroom to the graduating seniors taking their first tentative steps into the world, my commitment and focus has always been on helping each student to find who they are and tap into what moves them. What makes them feel remarkable and unique? What brings them the greatest joy in school and in life? "

Taylor serves as Chair of the NJASA Curriculum and Instruction. On behalf of NJASA, she participated in the NJEA Teacher Leader Summit. In September 2011, she co-wrote a grant for the EE4NJ Pilot Program and subsequently the Ocean City School District was selected as one of the ten Cohort I Pilot Districts.

Last month, Freehold Regional Superintendent of Schools Charles B. Sampson was named the Region II winner. Taylor and Sampson were introduced at the NJASA Executive Committee’s October meeting at the Annual Fall Workshop in Atlantic City. Later that day, they were acknowledged during the workshop’s general session. The workshop is co-sponsored by NJASA, the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials (NJASBO) and the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA).

Taylor was appointed the Superintendent of the Ocean City School District in 2006. Previously, she served as the Chief Education Officer of the Sea Isle City School District and Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services and Secondary Administration for the School District of Haverford Township, Havertown, PA. She began her administrative career as a Vice Principal in the Norristown Area School District in Norristown, PA, and then as Principal in the same District.

She served as President of the Cape May County Superintendents Association from 2015-2017. Currently, she serves on the Executive Board of the Ocean City Education Foundation and the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce; the Ocean City’s Task Force for Health and Wellness; and organized and led the Ocean City School District’s and Community Committee for the "Did You Know Campaign," – a drug prevention program.

She earned her Doctorate in Educational Administration from Widener University, Summa Cum Laude and was the recipient of the Landis Award for Outstanding Graduate Student. She received her Masters of Education from Arcadia University, Magna Cum Laude and with Distinction and her Bachelor’s degree from East Stroudsburg University, Cum Laude.

The attached image of Dr. Kathleen Taylor was provided by the NJASA