By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Taylor announced her retirement Friday, April 16, in a letter to the district community.
Taylor has been the superintendent of schools for 15 years. Her retirement is effective Aug. 1.
Taylor took over the district just after the completion of the new Ocean City High School and has led it since, including through the COVID-19 pandemic that has posed challenges for school districts throughout the state.
In her letter, she wrote, “A profound change is occurring now in education due to the pandemic’s impact on schooling. Colleagues, associations, consortiums, and education departments will continue to lead the way in responding to this seismic change by creating a more flexible, equitable and resilient school environment designed to encourage each student’s instructive curiosity in exploring personal opportunities to learn.
“Therefore, retiring now is a perfect time,” she continued. “The School District is ready for another visionary superintendent, one who can continue to lead this district, continue to challenge the status quo, and maximize the benefits of this evolutionary time for the next generation of students.”
School board President Joseph Clark did not return a request for comment before deadline on Taylor’s retirement or process the board will use to find her replacement.
Taylor spent much of her letter thanking her colleagues, community organizations and the board of education and talking about her achievements.
Noting she started her professional career in 1973, she wrote, “From my first day as a teacher through my last day of my career, I never waver in my focus on who is most important – students. Every day I champion children, from witnessing them learning, planning for their successes, tying their shoes in the hallways, giving high-fives, attending their games and performances, celebrating accomplishments, cheering them on to be the best that they can be, to sending them personal notes to recognize the differences they made in the community. I will really miss the students.”
Taylor said she will continue to be an advocate for children during her retirement.
During her 48 years in education, she wrote, “I have not only had an active part in sweeping educational reforms, at times, I have led the way. For my leadership, I was recognized as the 2018 New Jersey Superintendent of the Year.”
Among the accomplishments she cited in her letter, starting full-day preschool, stabilizing student enrollment, emphasizing personalized learning, and focusing on mental health support for students.
She thanked a litany of organizations for their support, including the Ocean City Education Foundation, Parent-Teacher Association, parents committees, booster clubs, the city of Ocean City, police and fire departments, the Ocean City Free Public Library and Historical Museum, and the Ocean City Tabernacle.