Board of Education selects Dr. Robert Taylor as next Superintendent

The Wake County Board of Education is excited to announce the selection and election of  Dr. Robert P. Taylor as the next superintendent of the Wake County Public School System.  Dr. Taylor will take office on October 1, 2023. The board received applications from 28 excellent candidates from 13 states and territories. Following a thorough review and interview process, the board chose Dr. Taylor for the breadth of knowledge he has gained during an extensive 30-year career in public education, which includes teaching, school- and district-level administration, and state-level administration. Dr. Randy Bridges will continue to serve as interim superintendent until Taylor takes office on October 1, 2023.

About the search

The Wake County Board of Education is seeking a superintendent to lead the school system as it continues to ensure that all Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) students have a fair, just, and equitable education that prepares them to reach their full potential and lead productive lives in a complex and changing world.

Serving approximately 159,000 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, WCPSS is the largest school system in the state and the fifteenth largest school system in the nation. The district operates 198 schools, including several nationally recognized and ranked programs, and has a long history of robust and award-winning magnet programs and schools. WCPSS has a total operating budget of $1.94 billion. WCPSS has strong partnerships with local universities and community colleges to provide dual enrollment, leadership academies, early college programming, and pre-K opportunities, and works closely with community organizations to strengthen the district’s schools for the betterment of all students. WCPSS has over 20,000 employees, including nearly 11,000 teachers, over 34% of whom have advanced degrees and over 1,800 of whom are National Board certified.

The school system’s mission is to provide a relevant and engaging education and to graduate students who are collaborative, creative, and effective communicators and critical thinkers. The school system enjoys strong community support and is governed by a 9-member nonpartisan board of education elected by district to serve staggered 4-year terms. 

Wake County, including the city of Raleigh (the county seat and the state capital) and its surrounding communities, consistently ranks as one of the top areas in the nation to live, work, and raise a family. Located in central North Carolina, Wake County is just hours from the beaches of eastern North Carolina and the mountains of western North Carolina, with convenient access to Interstates 40, 85, and 95 and to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU).

Wake County is the second-fastest growing county in the nation and has a diverse population of approximately 1,150,000 residents scattered throughout urban, suburban, and rural communities. As part of the Research Triangle with Chapel Hill and Durham, the area offers world-renowned healthcare facilities, biopharmaceutical research, a cutting-edge technology sector, and several excellent educational institutions. 

Candidates must meet the legal requirements to be licensed as a superintendent in North Carolina or otherwise be qualified and eligible to serve under State Board of Education policy.

In addition, the selected candidate will be required to live in Wake County. Central office and building-level experience is preferred. 

 A successful candidate must demonstrate ability and success in: 

1. visionary educational leadership; 
2. understanding equity factors and the influence of equity on educational outcomes; 
3. curriculum and instruction, including addressing opportunity gaps and academic recovery; 
4. goal-setting and monitoring student achievement; 
5. fostering community and intergovernmental partnerships; 
6. administration and organization of short-term and long-term strategic planning, budgeting, and personnel and facilities management; 
7. communication and team-building; 
8. ongoing financial management and procuring additional funding; 
9. visibility and involvement in community activities; 
10. leadership in maintaining safe and orderly school environments; 
11. planning and funding of school facilities; 
12. decision-making, delegation, and follow-through; and, 
13. ensuring reliable, efficient, fiscally-sound transportation and food services that are received with high satisfaction. 

Application and Selection

All inquiries should be directed to Sam Thorp, Assistant Legal Counsel for Superintendent Searches, North Carolina School Boards Association, at sthorp@ncsba.org or 919-841-4040. All inquiries will be kept confidential. Applicants must complete the board’s required online application form, accessible via the North Carolina School Boards Association’s webpage: https://www.ncsba.org/legal/super-search/north-carolina-vacancies/

Please do not contact, or ask anyone you know to contact, individual board members about your interest in or application for this position.