NEW FOR TUESDAY: Decatur Principal To Leave School, Accept Board Post

NEW FOR TUESDAY: Decatur Principal To Leave School, Accept Board Post
Taylor Louis

NEWARK — At today’s Worcester County Board of Education meeting, Stephen Decatur High School Principal Louis H. Taylor was named to succeed Ed Barber as the Assistant Superintendent for Administration, effective July 1, 2012. Barber is retiring on June 30 after serving 17 years with Worcester County Public Schools and a total of 36 years in education.

Taylor was appointed by Superintendent Dr. Jon Andes, who is also retiring on June 30.

“Lou Taylor is an exceptional educational leader who has devoted his entire adult-life to educating the youth of Worcester County,” said Andes. “He has had extensive experience in all areas which affect an educational system – from overseeing the renovation of his school, to managing finances, to overseeing facility operations at the largest high school on the Eastern Shore, to implementing new curriculum, to partnering with community leaders. His wealth of knowledge, coupled with his passion for doing what is best for children, will serve him well in this new leadership role.”

On his successor, Barber said, “Lou Taylor is a born-here, from-here, and serve-here. Having lived and served in Worcester County for his entire life, he understands the needs of our schools and will continue to make decisions which benefit our students, parents, teachers, business leaders, and community members. The transition will be an easy one for our school system.”

Taylor has been serving as principal of Stephen Decatur High School for 17 years, having held the position of assistant principal at the high school for four years prior. As principal, Taylor supervises 161 employees and 1,400 students, as well as all operations associated with the school.

Taylor started his teaching career at Berlin Middle School (now Berlin Intermediate School) as a physical education teacher from 1984 to 1989, before advancing to assistant principal at Berlin Middle School from 1989 to 1991.

 “Each of our Worcester County communities is unique and special,” said Taylor. “As someone who has been raised here, I am very familiar with all of our community schools, as well as the towns and cities which they serve. We have always done an excellent job of meeting each school’s facility, transportation, and staffing needs, and I am looking forward to continuing this Worcester County tradition. I am prepared for this new role – for this new challenge.”

See The Dispatch on Friday for the complete story.