After restructuring some of his duties as Student Services Coordinator at Daviess County Public Schools, Scott Taylor will now be able to focus on helping district leadership address diversity, equity and poverty.
Taylor has been at his position with DCPS for nearly four years. During that time, he has worked with students from all backgrounds and has also been the district coordinator in working with homeless students. Taylor has experience in providing services to students and families representing all areas of demographics and diversity.
Taylor said his goal in the redefined role — which will begin July 1 — is to “to ensure that as a district we leverage equity and diversity in everything we do, including how we teach, how we learn, how we recruit new employees and most importantly celebrating and honoring diversity among our students, staff and families.”
One of the main priorities will be to increase diversity among DCPS staff, specifically classroom teachers.
“We know it is important for all students — not only students of color — to see leaders who represent an inclusive spectrum,” Taylor said. “We also want to enhance culturally responsive teaching, which promotes engagement with students of diversity. In addition, we know that poverty is a barrier to learning. Our Family Resource and Youth Service Centers continue to do amazing work in this area and we want to continue to support that effort across our district.
According to DCPS Director of Student Services Damon Fleming, Taylor is currently representing the district in the following roles, which will continue as he transitions to his new responsibilities:
- Western Academy at the H.L. Neblett Community Center: Program for Black and biracial males in grades 3-7. This program focuses on reading, math and mentorship.
- ACT Prep Program at the H.L. Neblett Community Center: Program serving Black and biracial students from Daviess County and Owensboro public schools districts. This program uses the eKnowledge test prep platform to prepare students for success on the ACT exam.
- Homeless Liaison for DCPS
- Court Liaison for DCPS
- Afterschool Programs
DCPS Superintendent Matt Robbins said the creation of the role “has been a long time” coming and district leadership is excited for Taylor to get started.
“I think that there’s a lot of opportunity — which means sometimes a lot of work — ahead of us in this area,” Robbins said. “I’m really looking forward to the prospects with Mr. Taylor leading us in this area.”
Taylor said the DCPS Board of Education has demonstrated “wholehearted” support for this work.
“Even before this became a specific position, this has been a goal and mission of our Board and our entire district leadership team,” he said.
In figuring out exactly what they wanted the duties for Taylor to be, DCPS officials observed job descriptions for other districts with similar positions. They also hope to utilize resources that other area districts have been using.
“We know there are numerous programs and organizations in the Daviess County community, state and nation, and we plan to partner with those groups to strengthen our efforts,” Taylor said. “The areas of concern which we hope to address — diversity, equity and poverty — know no boundaries, and therefore we want to embrace and collaborate with as many partners as possible.”
