Wake County Board of Education hires new 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 (WCPSS). 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.

"On behalf of the Wake County Board of Education, I am pleased to announce the appointment of our new Superintendent, Dr. Taylor," stated Lindsay Mahaffey, chair of the Wake County Board of Education. "Following a national search, Dr. Taylor emerged as the top candidate, demonstrating a wealth of experience, a proven track record in educational leadership, and a deep commitment to student success.

"The feedback we received from the community was invaluable in informing this decision. We carefully considered the input we received, giving weight to our community's aspirations, priorities, and concerns. By incorporating this broad range of perspectives, we have sought to ensure that our decision aligns with our community's collective values and vision.”

Before briefly serving as state superintendent of education in his home state of Mississippi, Dr. Taylor spent two years with the NC Department of Public Instruction as deputy state superintendent. In this role, he supervised a number of areas, including federal programs, NC Virtual Public School, school operations, and school nutrition, while also working closely with the state board of education and superintendent on mission and vision development, legislative and policy development, and program implementation and evaluation.

Dr. Taylor served as superintendent of Bladen County Schools (BCS) for nearly a decade. He was named the 2017 Sandhills RESA Superintendent of the Year, as well as the 2018 NCAAHPERD Superintendent of the Year for his work in school nutrition, health, and physical education. He was also awarded the Friday Medal in 2017 from NC State University’s Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and received the Friends of Nutrition Award from the NC Child Nutrition Association in 2018.

Prior to joining BCS, Dr. Taylor worked as assistant superintendent for administrative services in Clinton City Schools. He also worked for Cumberland County Schools as a principal, assistant principal, and middle school teacher. In addition, he has served as an advisor to the schools of education at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Fayetteville State University.

Dr. Taylor received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the University of Southern Mississippi. He went on to obtain a master’s degree in school administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fayetteville State University.

Dr. Taylor shared the following statement:

“The Wake County Public School System stands at the forefront of innovative education, and I welcome the opportunity to provide the leadership that continues this work provided by all of its high-quality educators. The Wake County Board of Education remains committed to providing a high-quality education for all students and working collaboratively with them and the entire community will further expand what constituents of this community have come to expect — high-quality education for all. My family and I are honored to be a part of this community and look forward to being a part of its continued growth and expansion.”

Dr. Taylor is married to Col. Vivian L. Taylor, Ret., and they have three children: Jalyn, a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate, US Army soldier, and Texas law enforcement officer; Mia, a recent graduate of Western Carolina University; and Miles, a junior at Fayetteville State University.