Superintendent Dr. Taylor Announces Retirement
Dr. Bryan W. Taylor, Superintendent of Hickory Public Schools, and the HPS BOE have announced his retirement effective August 1, 2023. During his tenure as Superintendent of Hickory Public Schools, Dr. Taylor has led many initiatives to improve student and staff safety, student performance, and student outcomes.
Under Dr. Taylor’s leadership, HPS purchased and installed weapons detection systems in all nine schools within Hickory Public Schools becoming the first and only public-school district in North Carolina to have weapons detection systems at every school in the district. Dr. Taylor also created a partnership between Hickory Public Schools and the 25th Judicial District of the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice that led to Juvenile Court Counselors having a sustained and ongoing presence in the middle and high schools within Hickory Public Schools.
In addition to improving safety, Hickory Public Schools has made improvements in student learning and student outcomes under Dr. Taylor’s leadership. This past year, the first of year of full End of Grade/End of Course testing following COVID, Hickory Public Schools was one of only eight public school districts in North Carolina in which every school met or exceeded growth. Dr. Taylor also led the initiative to purchase and install new interactive panels in every classroom within HPS.
When asked to reflect on his decision to retire, Dr. Taylor offered the following: “I have reached the point in both my personal and professional life where retirement is an option for me and I have decided to pursue that option. My last day will be July 31, 2023. I have spent 22 of my 30 years in public education serving as an administrator at various levels and I have served as superintendent of two public school districts in North Carolina. It is time for me to move into the next phase of my personal and professional life.”
“I am very excited about the future and the possibilities that lie ahead. I look forward to being able to pursue opportunities outside of public education and I also look forward to simply enjoying the simple things in life after devoting the last 30 years to public education.”
“I would like to say thank you to everyone who helped me reach this point. I would not be where I am today without the support of so many people. I am grateful for the friendships I have developed during my time in public education and I am proud of the work and accomplishments I have been a part of over the last 30 years. I have devoted my professional life to improving the lives of young people and I believe I have done so in many ways.”
“I would like to say a special thank you to the HPS BOE, HPS staff, students, and families for allowing me to be a part of the HPS family. We accomplished quite a bit during our time together and I believe HPS will continue to move in the positive direction we began together. We laid the foundation for success well into the future.”
“Finally, I would like to say a special thank you to my family. My family has supported me throughout this entire journey and my family has always been there for me. It’s now time for me to be there for them.”
Thank you again to everyone who has shared this journey with me.