Dr. Thomas Taylor is superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest school district in the state of Maryland, serving more than 160,00 students across 211 schools.

He previously served as superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools, a rapidly growing community located halfway between Washington, D.C., and Richmond. During his tenure, Dr. Taylor implemented various noteworthy initiatives including the development of specialty centers focused on in-demand career opportunities and expanded work-based learning career credentialing. Dr. Taylor led the work to offer a comprehensive approach to student learning, effective teaching methods, top-notch curriculum, active engagement, fair assessment, high standards, and tailored support for all students. He also secured a partnership with the Jed Foundation to address student mental health.

Dr. Taylor led the development of the Stafford County School system’s Strategic Plan, provided draft legislation for consideration in Richmond, and standardized school practices that define expectations for student achievement and efficiency.

Prior to his service in Stafford, Dr. Taylor served as deputy superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools (CCPS), where he oversaw instruction and daily operations. Located near Richmond, CCPS is the fifth-largest school system in Virginia, with 62,000 students and more than 8,000 employees. Prior to his role as deputy superintendent, Taylor was the district’s chief academic officer and chief of schools. He led the process for creating the CCPS strategic plan and helped guide the school system to full accreditation four years in a row.

Taylor joined CCPS after serving nearly four years as superintendent of Middlesex County Public Schools, also in Virginia. While in Middlesex County, he was recognized as Virginia’s Region III Superintendent of the Year for his work to promote college and career readiness and for leading the first successful 1:1 computing initiative in rural eastern Virginia.

With more than 25 years of experience in education, Taylor has worked as a social studies teacher, coach, and administrator in several K-12 districts. In addition, he has been an adjunct professor of educational leadership at the University of Virginia for the past 11 years. Taylor earned a doctorate in education policy and a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Virginia’s School of Education and Human Development. In addition, he holds an MBA from William & Mary’s Raymond A. Mason School of Business and a bachelor’s from Virginia Wesleyan University.