Lakeview’s top educator exits in July

Velina Jo Taylor oversaw district operations for 5 years

CORTLAND -- After leading the Lakeview Local School District for five years, Superintendent Velina Jo Taylor plans to retire at the end of July.

Taylor told the district of her plans last week.

"My husband fully retired this year," Taylor said. "And he's pretty anxious to get started on all these big grandiose plans we have to travel and see the world before we're too old to do it."

Taylor spent the bulk of her career in the Brookfield Local School District. She worked for a short time in Canfield and at the Mahoning County Educational Service Center. Before taking over for Lakeview Superintendent Robert Wilson in 2019, Taylor served as Brookfield superintendent.

"Educators often feel that they're teaching in a vacuum," Taylor said. "They sometimes think they're doing good things for kids, but they really don't know until much later.

"And now that I'm at the much later point, it's wonderful to hear from former students and know that what I did mattered and really did make a difference for the people who came through my classroom or worked with me when I was working in administrative positions."

HIGHLIGHTS

"Teachers are here to serve, and when you do understand that what you did really made a difference, it really means the world to you," Taylor said.

At Lakeview, Taylor said some of her most favorite moments included educating through the COVID-19 pandemic along with the growth and improvement she's seen from the district.

"We were very proud of how we implemented the requirements from the department of health, and still gave our elementary kids school every single day. They didn't miss a day of education, maybe not a full day, but they got a half day of education every single day. And it really has made a difference in them not having the learning loss that a lot of other elementary schools ended up having."

"Our elementary school has brought their testing score up tremendously over the five years I've been here," Taylor said. "My first year here, we had a 'D' on our (state) report card. And we've transitioned to five stars.

"That's a huge shoutout to those teachers who have worked hard to implement a curriculum that really helps our kids to get better at math, reading and language arts."

Lakeview Middle School's achievement scores have grown, and she said the addition of College Credit-Plus classes at the high school is an achievement.

"We have well over half of our high school kids getting through college-level classes on their transcripts," Taylor said. "Lots and lots of kids participate in that opportunity, so that when they start in college, they have a head start over some of their peers."

Taylor said getting to know the Bazetta and Cortland communities was incomparable.

"It's been wonderful," Taylor said. "Our relationship with the city and the mayor -- also an excellent partnership. Partnerships with local business people, and the support that they can bring to the table has been super. I've never worked in a district that's had a better relationship with the people in the community."