(Oct. 6, 2016) A former student, teacher, principal, chief operating officer and assistant superintendent of Worcester County Public Schools, Lou Taylor, added another title during a press conference on Friday night: interim superintendent.
Though a read of the room during the conference, replete elective and school officials, or a quick ear during Douglas Dryden’s invocation would have revealed the result before Board President Jonathan Cook’s official announcement, the only real surprises during the meeting were the title of “interim” superintendent and the resignation, effective Oct. 31, of sitting Superintendent Dr. Jerry Wilson.
Wilson had already announced he was not seeking a new four-year contract, due to expire July 1, 2017, but hadn’t publicly hinted his tenure would be up much sooner.
“I want to express my appreciation to the board and the Worcester County community for the opportunity to serve as superintendent of schools,” Wilson said in a news release issued following the announcement, said. “I believe our educators have made great strides toward becoming a world class school system as evident by our students’ outstanding achievement in the recently released PARCC scores. Worcester County’s cumulative scores were higher than any other county in the state for two years in a row. I have been fortunate to work with outstanding educational leaders, and I have witnessed powerful instruction.”
Wilson was not present at the conference.
Cook said the “interim” title was because of a state law requiring formal announcements of superintendents to be made in February. He said it was this board’s “every intention” to make the change permanent in February.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to lead the school system I grew up in. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work,” Taylor said after the conference.
In his acceptance speech, Taylor said it was his responsibility to live up to the trust placed in him as he focused on educating the next generation of Worcester County students.
“Our children are watching and waiting,” he said.
Taylor explained the children were watching and waiting for the people of Worcester County to act as one people with a singular purpose, and said he was reminded of the former motto of the United States, “E pluribus unum,” Latin for “out of many, one.” The motto was changed to “In God we trust” in 1956.
Perhaps the most emotional speech of the night was delivered by Buzz Taylor, a former board of education member and father of the new superintendent.
“I never thought I’d see the day when my son would take over the school district,” he said.
Additional speeches in support of the decision were made by Delegate Mary Beth Carozza, Sen. Jim Mathias, Worcester County Commissioner President Jim Bunting, County Commissioner Chip Bertino and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, among others.
Though a read of the room during the conference, replete elective and school officials, or a quick ear during Douglas Dryden’s invocation would have revealed the result before Board President Jonathan Cook’s official announcement, the only real surprises during the meeting were the title of “interim” superintendent and the resignation, effective Oct. 31, of sitting Superintendent Dr. Jerry Wilson.
Wilson had already announced he was not seeking a new four-year contract, due to expire July 1, 2017, but hadn’t publicly hinted his tenure would be up much sooner.
“I want to express my appreciation to the board and the Worcester County community for the opportunity to serve as superintendent of schools,” Wilson said in a news release issued following the announcement, said. “I believe our educators have made great strides toward becoming a world class school system as evident by our students’ outstanding achievement in the recently released PARCC scores. Worcester County’s cumulative scores were higher than any other county in the state for two years in a row. I have been fortunate to work with outstanding educational leaders, and I have witnessed powerful instruction.”
Wilson was not present at the conference.
Cook said the “interim” title was because of a state law requiring formal announcements of superintendents to be made in February. He said it was this board’s “every intention” to make the change permanent in February.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to lead the school system I grew up in. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work,” Taylor said after the conference.
In his acceptance speech, Taylor said it was his responsibility to live up to the trust placed in him as he focused on educating the next generation of Worcester County students.
“Our children are watching and waiting,” he said.
Taylor explained the children were watching and waiting for the people of Worcester County to act as one people with a singular purpose, and said he was reminded of the former motto of the United States, “E pluribus unum,” Latin for “out of many, one.” The motto was changed to “In God we trust” in 1956.
Perhaps the most emotional speech of the night was delivered by Buzz Taylor, a former board of education member and father of the new superintendent.
“I never thought I’d see the day when my son would take over the school district,” he said.
Additional speeches in support of the decision were made by Delegate Mary Beth Carozza, Sen. Jim Mathias, Worcester County Commissioner President Jim Bunting, County Commissioner Chip Bertino and Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan, among others.