By: Kasey Vangelov, Caroline
Schnabel, Nicole Kazmierczak
Almost fifteen years ago, Mr. Taylor joined Williamsville East as athletic director, Mr. Difilippo’s current position, and a few years later he got the position of vice principal, before finally becoming the principal we all knew and love for the past seven years. Friday, January eighth was his last day as principal of East.
In the fall, the North Collins school district, which is located a couple towns South of Hamburg, posted an opening for superintendent. Mr. Taylor, seeing this as an opportunity for a new experience, got the job and is looking forward to the change. He said, “I guess the exciting part about it is that it’s new and that it’s in a different district, so learning about their culture and the history of the school district, and seeing where they’re at, and meeting the students and seeing where they’re at and what they’d like to see in the future is what I’m looking forward to.”
A school’s culture was always very important to Mr. Taylor. Only the third principal since the school opened in 1975, Mr. Taylor inherited the type of stability, loyalty, and respect most other high schools are not lucky enough to have. The philosophy of the “school with no walls” is still very much the same. With construction updates the last three years, many students worried that there would be permanent walls and enclosed rooms. They also worried about other changes, like painting the four corners and stairways white or some uniform color.“There’s been a lot of cosmetic changes I think, we’ve tried to do a lot of updates to East. In 2002, I mean everything from the buzzer system for security in the building to the big remodel we’ve had over the last two years with new ceilings, new lockers, new walls, new carpeting. In terms of changes of philosophy or culture, I don’t think it has. We’ve tried to sustain that culture of students being able to move around the building and make choices of what to do with their free period, and I think students have done a really nice job with taking that responsibility on and, I guess, choosing wisely.”
Mr. Taylor does believe that adapting is important, but he also acknowledges that students and faculty know what they love about East. “That’s interesting because that’s the question I put on our freshman survey every year, ‘What changes would you like at East’, and number one for the last eight years has been nothing. The students always write back don’t change East, don’t change anything.”
Mr. Taylor reflected on his time at East and saying goodbye. “It’s been wonderful, it really has been. You know from the first day I came here I really connected with the students and the community and the family. I loved everything like the philosophy and the culture, it’s different and it’s cool. I think kids really like being here, and we try to create that atmosphere that kids like to be in… I loved all parts of being principal here at East, I really did.”
Proudest achievement? “I don’t know if I have a proudest achievement. Ultimately what we’re trying to do is to make East a place where people want to be, most importantly the students. Our philosophy has always been that if students want to be here, and they feel safe and they’re known, and they’re challenged, then I think learning happens which is the ultimate goal. Obviously we have great results academically, and in different things our students really put in a lot of hard work. We also have really dedicated staff, and the clinic hours, and the students go and see our teachers, spending time building relationships with kids, so I think that’s probably what I’m most proud of, continuing that on.”
While the student body will miss Mr. Taylor, and it may take time to adjust to his absence, thanking him for an outstanding seven years as principal and wishing him luck with his new job is the greatest concern. During his time as principal, Mr. Taylor was able to retain East’s philosophy of giving responsibility to the students while having a great administration to help and guide them. He also responded to student feedback to make positive changes to the school, such as changing the technology policy to allow students more freedom in that respect.
Much of the administration, as well as the student body, took note of the impact Mr. Taylor has had on East. Mrs. Desantis said, “He left a lasting impact at East, and he’s going to be a great superintendent.”
Mr. Maciejewski said, “Mr. Taylor has been one to always make time to listen if you needed him. That’s huge.”
And Mr. Huber added, “Being strong and flexible is just as important as being consistent and fair, but none of that matters if you don’t listen, if you don’t take in advice as well as recommendations. Mr. Taylor worked on those qualities since day one because he knew why they are important.”
Mr. Taylor is also known for being quick to come up with a solution. Dr. Redmond was grateful for his ability to help him in a moment’s notice. “During my first year at East I was taking some 20 students to Boston, Massachusetts for a Model UN Conference. Our flight was at 4:00 PM. At 2:30 PM Mr. Taylor, who was the vice principal at the time, came up to the Social Studies Department and asked me for the permission slips. My response was: ‘Permission slips?’ I started to sweat and run in circles but Mr. Taylor was so calm. I will never forget how kind he was and how supportive he was despite my frequent absent mindedness.”
Madison Irene, Junior class Vice President, said, “It’s weird to think that Mr. Taylor will be leaving this place forever. I’ve only known him for three years, but I still saw the impact he had on this school and the students. Whoever comes next has big shoes to fill.” Trisha Pickelhaupt, Student Council President, also wished him luck with his job at North Collins. She said, “When I found out Mr. Taylor was leaving I was so surprised. I’m happy to see that he found a great opportunity and hopefully they appreciate him as much as we have. It’s going to be hard to replace such a fun and caring principal.”
If you’re wondering who’s going to be principal next, Mrs. Desantis, one of our vice principals, will take over his responsibilities temporarily until a replacement is hired. The plan is to hire the new principal by the end of February.
We asked Mr. Taylor if he would have any advice for whoever the new principal will be. His advice was, “Get feedback from the students. The only reason we’re all here is because of all of you. Getting your feedback about what’s working, what’s not, what we should do, what plans you would like to see, because ultimately you guys have the pulse of what’s happening, and using your feedback, I mean we can’t use everything like getting a Tim Hortons or Mighty Taco in the commons, but anything within reason would be considered.” This comment might come as a surprise for those who know his love of Tim Hortons well.
Mr. Taylor left us with his final hopes for East, something that the majority of the school would agree with. He said, “I just hope that East continues to be the way it has been…change will happen, it’s inevitable, but I hope that the philosophy that started back in 1975 with the openness, and teachers and students working together every period, and the commons, and students making their own choices will remain. I don’t think it will change, I think that it’s really instilled in our building, and it works because students are able to take that responsibility and do a great job with it.”
