The Mississippi Department of Education issued the following statement.
The Mississippi Senate has chosen not to confirm Dr. Robert Taylor as state superintendent of education and has questioned the process the Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) used to select a candidate. Senate confirmation is required to complete the appointment process of the state superintendent of education.
“The State Board of Education conducted a fair, competitive and rigorous application process to select the most qualified candidate to fulfill the duties of state superintendent of education,” said Rosemary Aultman, SBE chair. “The search firm we hired was helpful in giving the board direction, and we are confident we selected the best candidate.”
The SBE conducted a six-month, national search before voting unanimously on Nov. 21, 2022, to hire Dr. Taylor to serve as the state’s top public education official. Dr. Taylor was selected through a competitive process from among 26 applicants from 15 states.
State law gives the SBE the authority to hire the state superintendent of education. The SBE adhered to the state’s competitive procurement process to contract with the firm McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, to lead the search process. The SBE followed standard interview and evaluation procedures including reviewing resumes and applications, conducting background checks and formulating questions for multiple interviews.
The search firm assisted in identifying the seven semifinalists who submitted video recordings with responses to the SBE’s questions. Board members ranked the seven semifinalists to select four finalists for in-person interviews. The SBE conducted interviews with finalists over three days before selecting Dr. Taylor, who began serving in the position on Jan. 17, 2023.
Dr. Taylor is a 30-year veteran educator and the former deputy state superintendent for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Quality Counts ranks North Carolina No. 14 in the nation for K-12 achievement. A Laurel, Miss., native and University of Southern Mississippi graduate, Dr. Taylor began his career as a teacher’s assistant in Mississippi and served North Carolina public schools throughout his career as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, district superintendent and state education leader. As a district superintendent, Dr. Taylor distinguished himself for his work improving low-performing schools.
The SBE will schedule a special-called meeting in the coming days to name an interim state superintendent and take steps to begin a new search.
60 comments:
Wow. Would like to hear the reasoning for the rejection.
Those MS legislators sure are "conservative" aren't there? Makes me sick that these kids stuck in districts like JPS who want better in life have to be stuck there because we have a bunch of cowards in the Legislature who are terrified of school choice.
It's critical that one grease the right palms.
Charges of racism in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
So is this a good or bad thing? Anyone know anyone else who wants and is qualified for the job?
What was the Senate's reasoning? It seemed like he checked all the boxes.
How much money was spent by those idiots involved in this selection process? What is the reputation of the outside selection firm and how much $$$$ were they paid? We will never know the truth. Maybe the majority of the state senators have a good idea of the amount of total money already spent on the ordeal. It is my understanding he has already moved here, so I am pretty sure we will have to pay to move him back. We are not 50th in the USA for no reason.
Of course, this has absolutely NOTHING to do with his race and sexual orientation.
Not in Mississippi of all places!
Wow, this appears strange. Got to wonder about the rest of the story. Senate should not reject without a very good reason.
Do we know what the Senate did not like?
He seems quite qualified. I see a card deck coming out.
When searching for a reason to reject the candidate, don't overlook the obvious.
What is this all about, KF?
Tried to slip one in (a liberal). I guess their view that he was the best candidate is indicative of their views. Casts a shadow on the next person, too.
This morning, in a very rushed fashion, Lt Gov Hosemann had the Senate Education Committee pass the nomination of Robert Taylor for Mississippi Superintendent of Education.
It will now come before the full Senate for a vote.
Conservative Mississippian should be deeply troubled by this.
Mr. Taylor, a Democrat, once called Mississippi “the most racist state” in America. He is a supporter of Critical Race Theory, affirmative action, and the removal of historical monuments — embracing the “woke” and liberal culture.
Mr. Taylor supports the liberal policies that are crippling our education system.
I will not support his nomination.
Someone open a closet full of skeletons?
The State Board of Ed is totally comprised of Republican appointees. So I’m dying to hear the republican senators’ reasoning. But it’s probably just the obvious.
Where have you 'tin foil hatters' been since the 'nomination'?
The man has been roundly revealed as a flaming liberal who spoke very disparagingly of this state on numerous occasions and even wrote doctoral papers criticizing the state and its discriminatory nature. Also stuck a sword in Southern Miss.
He also leans heavily toward Critical Race Theory in the classroom. If these are the credentials you knuckleheads want in charge of education in this state, please allow me to refer you to a nearby U-haul dealership.
Thankfully sensible heads killed this nomination.
Rosemary Aultman is wordy but ineffective and muddle-headed.
In legal circles, it's said that 'you can indict a ham sandwich'. Aultman proves, in educational circles, you can recommend anybody who fogs up a mirror.
Cannot believe this many people were totally unaware of his baggage. This is not a train station or a bus stop. We don't need his baggage influencing our grandchildren.
Majority of senators come from the two SEC schools...they don't like them no kinda USM.
Say what you want about Junior, but he has out Machiavelli-ed the City Council and won the contract war. Damn shame, but the feckless beard has street game. No doubt Bennie is beaming as well. Game respect game.
The large majority of you people in this state complaining about kids being taught CRT have nothing to worry about. 1 Because it's something taught in Law Schools. 2. Most of your kids won't make it that far.
Choice and Vouchers need to dominate our discussion of reform, not overpaid bureaucrats who support their self empowering system, not students.
The truth seems to be that in Mississippi, when it comes to a statewide office like this, only one race is critical -- no matter what your theory is.
On the bright side, the real estate agent who sold him his new house will probably get another common selling that house again
As a Clintonian, I have had my disagreements with Mayor Aultman, but she is infinitely more qualified to run a superintendent search than anybody in the senate. The fact that Delbert mustered up a majority to turn down a candidate that none of them ever met speaks volumes. This is nothing but good ole boy politics.
Just when you think Chris McDaniel has shot off his tenth toe, the establishment loans him another one.
The full Ms.Senate has the final say. May want to get that OK before employing the next Superintendent of Education. The current process is backassward.
@5:29 clearly didn't listen to the hearing where Dr. Taylor spoke. He wrote that thirty years ago. Let't not forget the history of this state.
Good luck getting qualified people to apply when this kind of nonsense happens. But, it will probably ensure that whatever local good old boy who didn't get the job this go round has it locked up moving forward.
Dr. Robert Taylor once called Mississippi “the most racist state” in America. He is a Democrat, a supporter of Critical Race Theory, affirmative action, and the removal of historical monuments — embracing the “woke” and liberal culture. Great Job Mississippi , WE THE PEOPLE WILL PASS! 🇺🇸
@9:05 PM - Try to keep up. He was voted down by the full Senate.
Evidently there are no qualified candidates inside the State that could do the job and that’s why they have to look elsewhere.
Why did the Senate not pass the lady from Desoto that works on school choice? Tate's person for teh State Board?
Put the bong and cheetos down, Fat Melvin. Your dumbass couldn't get into law school and your big ass couldn't fit through the damn door anway.
While the governor is busy signing anti-woke legislation, republican appointees to the SCB are busy hiring a woke enthusiast to replace the last disaster in the SDE position. Was he to be paid 330K? Who knows?
Carey Wright was Wrong for this state and resigned as soon as she was PERS vested. Nine years at 330,000 will result in a healthy 13th check in about four years (for life).
7;16 PM, you’re a real genius telling us all what we already know – and too dumb to realize your post “most of (your) kids won’t make it that far,” - also applies to every state in the county.
P.S. if you’re a “lawyer,” your post is proof you don’t have to be smart to be a lawyer.
If somebody would post a legitimate link to where this guy actually said or wrote any of this stuff, I might go along with it. So far, it sounds like some scare tactic.
You can do a very simple google search and examine an article he did when he was offered the job that stated very clearly that he didn't even know enough about critical race theory to speak on it intelligently.
The argument that he was all of these things can be dismissed with 3 minutes worth of simple research.
What is telling is that the education system seems to hum right along without a superintendent. Why do they even need one? Bueller?
He is a USM grad. Strike one. He called Mississippi the most racist state in the union. Strike two and three.
Truth hurts. Which state’s history is more racist than ours? Also, the quote was taken out of context. Below is an interview published by USM in which he makes this statement. He talks about the challenges of being black in a white college. He calls out “a minority of white people” who are racist. He thanks his white professors for going to great lengths on his behalf.
Get out the sheets I suppose.
Link to interview https://www.usm.edu/black-studies/robert-taylor.php
This is simple. Chris McDaniel got his loonies stirred up and scored political points and too many chicken senators caved. Even Delbert flip flopped. Just go read the rhetoric on McDaniels Facebook page.
I’m a white Mississippian, but how can I be offended if Mississippi is called the most racist state? What state even comes close?
better ban the internet in mississippi. if you really think that a bunch of teachers is changing your youngins into CRT SJW loving Liberals, you are missing your own critical thinking skills
tiktok, youtube- how many youngins from other state are posting and sharing online. they learn far more from people their own age than some middle aged teacher.
wanna live in china? russia? can’t put pandora back into the box.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
@9:05 PM - Try to keep up. He was voted down by the full Senate. March 29, 2023 at 9:50 PM
....................
Sounds to me like YOU are the one who's not keeping up. He was reportedly already on payroll, hired pending. Being paid since January. Now voted down. Several months pay has already been direct deposited.
But, we now read that another vote is to be taken today by the senate on this same issue.
https://www.usm.edu/black-studies/robert-taylor.php
Section on Unheard Word.
https://www.proquest.com/openview/90f5b73b07dce07397065f97c3db4ee2/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
The tone of his doctoral dissertation.
Google is your friend.
Local MOMS FOR LIBERTY deserve much of the credit for getting people involved in the process. Making sure the right person becomes the Superintendent of Education is of the utmost importance for the betterment of Mississippi. All of the politicians involved were contacted by hundreds of people daily until the message was clear. Taylor was the wrong choice and the Senate righted that wrong.
Hundreds of people daily Moms for Liberty. Good grief, what wonderful times we live in.
When you write a dissertation, especially at a state school that's not a diploma mill, it is a difficult process. It requires you get a committee together, come up with an interesting topic, conduct an exhaustive literature review (from peer reviewed journals), figure out how you are going to get your hands on the data, conduct a statistical analysis (if its quantitative), present chapters 1-3 to the committee as a proposal, present chapters 1-5 to the committee as a whole, jump through a whole bunch of hoops, and hopefully......at the end walk out with a degree.
For the record that's a VERY brief picture of what all goes into it........
They don't just give you a degree because you had some cockamamie idea, its a difficult process that often takes many years.
Its quite offensive to use this mans dissertation as a weapon against his character.
@8:35 says “wanna live in china? russia? can’t put pandora back into the box.”
Well, ack-shoo-ally, I think I might like that. My trouble is I can’t just wade across a muddy ditch in the morning and start a new job later that afternoon. Russia and China enforce their immigration policies, unlike here in Amurka.
10:23 AM Just in you were not aware that is how or republic works. You contact those that are elected to represent you and give them your thoughts respectfully. Taylor found out just how effective this is. Moms For Liberty rock.
For 8:09, Rosemary and others who are more interested in diversity and inclusion than in their own children and grandchildren...
Dismissing, for the moment, the context of his comments, how do you protect the man based on the failing and near failing schools where he was or is most recently employed?
Would you hire a facility manager who, at his last two jobs, could not meet production and lost numerous customers that were critical to the business?
Would you hire as a corporate Controller, a candidate who, at his present job, has been unable to accurately present a profit and loss report at a board meeting?
Would you hire as an education superintendent a man who, when asked a question about the most dangerous plan facing our education system today, would answer, "Ahh, I don't know anything about that"?
world population review.com/state-rankings/most-racist-states
Mississippi isn’t the most racist state
“Its quite offensive to use this mans dissertation as a weapon against his character.”
Personally, I think it speaks perfectly of his character. People will tell you who they are, if you only pay attention. The same goes for your post.
I see the “academics” have circled the wagons.
@1:19
I hope my post conveyed the message that I have excellent reading comprehension skills and know how to think for myself
because that's what I was shooting for
What about you chief?
Just read on WLBT that the card has hit the table.
12:20, Aultman was a wonderful educator before she was a mayor, and Clinton schools have excelled in part because of her leadership. And I think she knows more about the skillset needed by a superintendent than most of our state senators. But, elections have consequences.
12:58....interesting. I actually read that page and its ranking system. States ranked by racist language in tweets.
Of course, if we go by lynchings over the years, I think Mississippi holds its own. The good doctor's comment is not inaccurate.
“I have excellent reading comprehension skills”, if that's the case, you need no further elaboration from me.
Reject him for whatever reason but please stop using the term critical race theory. It doesn’t mean what you think it means. The term you are looking for is liberal indoctrination. History is history. Facts are facts. Some of them make your ancestors look bad. You are not responsible for that and no one should hold your children or grandchildren responsible for it. Those ancestor actions did contribute to our current reality, which is something you and your progeny have to live with but not answer for. None of it has anything to do with critical race theory, an eggheaded term that refers only to a theory of legal analysis that no one younger than 17 would ever have reason to study. Some pundit decided critical race theory was a catchy substitute for liberal indoctrination and you fell for it. That person punked you. Just stop.
It was Rosemary who took the Carey Wright sweetheart deals behind closed doors so they could be approved.
Thank you, Kingfish, for having the balls to remind us of that @ 7:49.
This is not about Rosemary. It's about a failed system of selecting leadership for the most critical job in this state.
Most of the respondents on this thread are totally unaware of the sweetheart contract deals handed out by the prior superintendent (to her friends 'back home' in Maryland. And SHE as well as this one, were Rosemary's babies.
Resignations are in order.
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