As an advocate and champion for kids, Mrs. Taylor firmly believes that every child deserves an opportunity to engage in rigorous, culturally responsive environments where students are celebrated for their success and feel safe to grow from their mistakes. Her commitment to this principle has become the foundation of her years of work in education with the learning communities she serves.

With humble beginnings as an elementary teacher in Trenton, NJ, Mrs. Taylor has various teaching and leadership experiences that span across the PK-12 public sector. After leading Marietta High School as the first African American Principal in the school’s 150-year history, she was supported, at the district level, as the District Administrator of Accountability and Program Support. She began her tenure in Atlanta Public Schools in 2017 as the principal of Finch Elementary School, where she significantly increased stakeholder engagement, improved school culture, and developed the schoolwide instructional framework. After one year, the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement recognized Finch Elementary as a “Beating the Odds” school, substantiating the school’s journey of continuous improvement. Under her instructional leadership, the school made significant progress with literacy and math, as measured by the Georgia Milestone Assessment System, which led to the school being removed from the state’s comprehensive support list. Mrs. Taylor’s commitment to excellence and accomplishments as a turnaround leader earned her recognition as the 2021 Atlanta Public Schools Principal of the Year.

Mrs. Taylor currently serves as the Principal at Frederick Douglass High School and the first female leader to serve in this capacity in the school’s 50-plus-year legacy. Under her leadership, she has redefined the culture of excellence, which is evident in the increase in state assessment scores and the 4-year cohort graduation rate. As a result, Douglass was removed from the state’s comprehensive list after two years.

Mrs. Taylor has a Bachelor of Science from Howard University, a Master of Education from Kennesaw State University, and a Specialist of Educational Leadership from Argosy University.