Superintendent Finalist Biography – Dr. Ronald Taylor From Educational Leadership Search Firm Ray & Associates Dr. Ronald Gerald Taylor is Superintendent of Willingboro Township Public Schools. He was born in Detroit, Mich. to
Gerald and Vero Taylor. The majority of his childhood was spent in his hometown of Detroit where he flourished as a scholar
and student athlete. The Taylor family relocated to Atlanta, Ga. as Dr. Taylor entered his formative years. While attending
Frederick Douglass High School, Dr. Taylor thrived as a member of the NJROTC, a letterman in three sports, as well as a
member of the school’s Technology Magnet Program. After high school, he attended the esteemed Morehouse College. The
experience of matriculating through “The House” had a profound effect on Dr. Taylor. The shared excellence and fraternal
feel of Morehouse instilled both confidence and a sense of service that has been a calling card throughout Dr. Taylor’s career.
After completing his undergraduate studies with a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education,
Ronald commenced on a career in public school education that has spanned more than 20 years. Dr. Taylor’s own schooling
continued on a parallel path with his professional growth as he earned a Master’s Degree with a focus on School
Administration from Trinity University in Washington DC, followed by a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership
and Policy Studies from The George Washington University, a top 20 nationally ranked institution of higher learning. Dr.
Taylor has successfully risen through the educational ranks as a Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Regional
Superintendent and now Superintendent of Schools. This educational journey has included valuable experiences in several
school districts, including Washington DC Public Schools, Boston Public Schools, Newark Public Schools and Willingboro
Township Public Schools. Dr. Taylor has recently expanded his educational service with an appointment as an Adjunct
Professor for Rowan University, teaching a class on Policy Studies to a cohort of Doctoral students.
One of Dr. Taylor’s career highlights includes being honored by the Washington DC Public Schools Board of Education as
the first Principal of a “Beating the Odds School” for achieving high academic student performance with an impoverished and
disenfranchised population. During his tenure in central administration, Dr. Taylor has been instrumental in increasing the
number of schools reaching Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by the US Department of Education’s No Child Left Behind
legislation in both Newark and Willingboro Township Public Schools. In 2012, the NAACP bestowed upon Dr. Taylor
recognition for being a Distinguished Educator and Community Advocate in reflection of his service as Superintendent of
Willingboro Township Public Schools. Dr. Taylor was again recognized in 2015 by the Lamont Smith Foundation,
Willingboro Mayor Eddie Campbell, Jr., and the Willingboro Township Council for his “tireless commitment to Academic
Leadership.”
While being considered a “Data Guru” and turnaround specialist for leading multiple secondary schools to their first
significant academic achievement in the NCLB era, Dr. Taylor is also renowned for his interpersonal skills, team building and
responsiveness. Dr. Taylor is often known for reiterating, “...as instructional leaders our decisions must be research based, data
driven, and student centered.” In his personnel life Dr. Taylor is a devoted husband to Mrs. Lisa Taylor and father to Miss
Imani Taylor. He enjoys attending school-based events to support the community in which he serves, while remaining a
dedicated sports fan to his Detroit based sports teams. Dr. Taylor is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, The
National Alliance of Black School Educators and The New Jersey Association of School Administrators, where he serves on
the Professional Development Committee.
1211 McGee
•
Kansas City, MO 64106
•
(816) 418-7000
•
www.kcpublicschools.org