Spotsylvania County Public Schools superintendent fired after controversial tenure
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now) — The controversial Spotsylvania County Public Schools superintendent has been fired, about a year-and-a-half after he first got the job.
Superintendent Mark Taylor was ousted in a 5-0 vote by the Spotsylvania County School Board on Tuesday. Two members were absent from the vote.
Loudoun County votes down proposal to bring new data center facility to Belmont
The Virginia Department of Education granted the former county administrator and attorney a license in September 2022, and according to the school district, Taylor, who has been on administrative leave since January, was dismissed with cause.
“The School Board moved to offer a hearing to the Superintendent on the reasons for his termination,” the district’s statement read. “The Superintendent will remain on administrative leave until the process is finalized.”
Taylor’s tenure went under a spotlight due to controversial social media posts and criticism about his qualifications.
“There were a lot of concerns about Taylor as superintendent,” said public education advocate Kassie Gregorio who is also a mother of two Spotsylvania public school graduates. “He never had set foot in a classroom in a public school as a teacher.”
From there, Taylor’s policies were scrutinized, including a proposal to defund all school libraries due to budget constraints. That proposal never made it through. He also removed more than a dozen books deemed sexually explicit.
More information about the status of the county’s superintendent will be offered at future school board meetings, according to the board’s statement.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
