Catawba County Schools, Board of Education

Jeff is from the Happy Valley area. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master's degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University. He is married to his wife, Valerie, with whom he has 2 daughters. 

Jeff currently works as a Dean of Students and Director of Athletics at University Christian High School. He previously worked as a principal, assistant principal, and social studies teacher at Bunker Hill High School. He also worked as a principal at H.M. Arndt Middle School and as an administrator at St. Stephens High School.  

Jeff Taylor currently serves as a member of the Catawba Board of Education. He was elected to this position in 2020 and is serving his first term. He also serves as chairman of the Governing Board. 

Candidate website

Believes higher quality should be prioritized in school construction and material procurement over finding the lowest-priced options. Said, "Cheaper is rarely better."

Wants to invest in retooling school facilities. 

Believes physical facilities should be well maintained and new facilities added by replacing the oldest first.

Supports ensuring physical facilities are well-maintained. 

Believes every school in Catawba County should have the best facilities and instructional supplies possible, regardless of location or community.

Wants Catawba County to have the "best facilities and instructional supplies..." possible. 

Supports maintaining and increasing funding for co-curricular and extracurricular activities to provide students with a well-rounded educational experience.

Wants to either maintain or increase funding for student co-curricular and extracurricular activities. 

- Wants to invest in retooling school facilities. 
- Supports ensuring physical facilities are well-maintained. 
- Wants Catawba County to have the "best facilities and instructional supplies..." possible. 
- Wants to either maintain or increase funding for student co-curricular and extracurricular activities. 

School Facilities & Resources

As of June 14, 2024, Jeff Taylor’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Access to Education

Believes in providing teachers with "high quality, relevant staff development" to keep them updated on best practices. Supports training that respects teachers' time and abilities.

Wants to equip teachers with high-quality and relevant staff development so they can stay up-to-date on the most effective teaching practices. 

Believes in recruiting the highest quality teachers from educational prep programs or other districts. Supports addressing teacher shortages and improving teacher training.

Supports recruiting high-quality teachers from prep schools or other school districts. 

The candidate's website says, "Become a “district of destination” for aspiring teachers by developing a reputation among colleges and universities and within the educational community that attracts the best teachers possible."

Wants to establish a reputation for county schools as a "district of destination" among colleges and universities to help recruit high-quality teachers. 

Believes in retaining the best teachers to make Catawba County Schools their career-long home and encouraging them to aspire to leadership within the district. Supports addressing teacher pay, teacher shortages, and teacher training to achieve this goal.

Supports efforts to retain the best-performing teachers for the long term. 

Believes in making a concerted effort to recruit diverse faculty and staff so that every student has teachers who look like them.

Supports establishing a diverse faculty and staff that reflects students' unique backgrounds. 

- Wants to equip teachers with high-quality and relevant staff development so they can stay up-to-date on the most effective teaching practices. 
- Supports recruiting high-quality teachers from prep schools or other school districts. 
- Wants to establish a reputation for county schools as a "district of destination" among colleges and universities to help recruit high-quality teachers. 
- Supports efforts to retain the best-performing teachers for the long term. 
- Supports establishing a diverse faculty and staff that reflects students' unique backgrounds. 

Teachers

Believes the lack of focus on social studies in schools over the past two decades contributes to political vitriol. Supports emphasizing the importance of being an informed, respectful citizen in the curriculum.

Wants to place a greater emphasis on social studies in the classroom.

Believes funding for arts should be a priority in school curriculums to help students express and enrich themselves, making them more well-rounded.

Believes funding for arts should be viewed as a priority. 

- Wants to place a greater emphasis on social studies in the classroom.
- Believes funding for arts should be viewed as a priority. 

School Curriculum

Believes every school should have a "safe and conducive" learning environment. Supports safe schools characterized by effective teaching and learning.

Wants to ensure schools are safe and conducive for teaching and learning. 

Believes in fostering a culture of mutual respect among administration, staff, and students, ensuring every student's individuality is respected and they feel emotionally safe to learn.

Wants to foster a culture of mutual respect among administration, staff, and students so students feel their individuality is respected and their well-being is supported. 

Believes in fostering a school culture that minimizes physical altercations and threats to student and staff safety. Supports creating environments that prioritize safety and well-being for all.

Wants to minimize student and faculty threats and physical altercations.

Believes in securing buildings to protect students from intruders and outside threats.

Supports ensuring student safety and protection from threats are upheld. 

- Wants to ensure schools are safe and conducive for teaching and learning. 
- Wants to foster a culture of mutual respect among administration, staff, and students so students feel their individuality is respected and their well-being is supported. 
- Wants to minimize student and faculty threats and physical altercations.
- Supports ensuring student safety and protection from threats are upheld. 

Student Wellbeing

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Jeff Taylor

Jeff is from the Happy Valley area. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master's degree in school administration from Gardner-Webb University. He is married to Valerie, with whom he has 2 daughters. 

The candidate's website says, "Schools are only as effective as the instructional staffs that work in the buildings. The board of education and district leaders must strive to:"

Believes in fostering a "culture of discipline" that is positive and respects student dignity. Supports school environments that ensure student wellbeing without violating their dignity.

Jeff Taylor was born on August 24, 1961, in Lenoir, North Carolina, and grew up in the Happy Valley area along the Yadkin River. He attended UNC Charlotte for college. Jeff is married to Valerie Godwin Taylor, and they have two daughters, Erin and Anna. Details about his current residence, church attendance, or additional family information are not provided.

Jeff Taylor began his career in education as a social studies teacher at Bunker Hill High School in 1984, later becoming an assistant principal at the same school. He served as principal of H.M. Arndt Middle School and returned to Bunker Hill High School as principal before moving to St. Stephens High School as an administrator. After retiring from Catawba County Schools with 31 years of service, he took a 'retirement job' as Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and Civics teacher at University Christian High School.

As of July 8, 2024, Jeff Taylor’s website did not contain information on this issue.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 