Danny Federico
reporter3.riverbendnews@gmail.com
During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28, the Suwannee County School Board took a moment to honor former District 1 representative Jerry Taylor. Taylor, who had accumulated 28 years of dedicated service to the school district, was a prominent figure in Suwannee County's education. During his tenure on the board, which began in 1996, the district launched numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and facilities for students and educators alike. Among Taylor's proudest achievements are the reconfiguration of Live Oak's elementary schools, the transition from a fully insured to a self-insured health insurance program for district employees, and the establishment of a wellness clinic catering to the needs of district staff. Additionally, the district constructed several new buildings across the county, including two new elementary schools—one in Branford and another in Live Oak. Another notable change made during his tenure was the rebranding of Suwannee Hamilton Technical College to RIVEROAK Technical College. Now, the college has ranked as one of the best schools in the nation (according to Intelligent.com) and had even procured a $4 million appropriation from the legislature for the construction of a new medical teaching facility in 2024. As a way to thank Taylor for his dedication, Superintendent Ronnie Gray and Chairman Ed da Silva presented him with his own gavel, which was inscribed with his years of service. "At any function, at any conference, everybody knows Jerry Taylor," Superintendent Gray said. "All of the superintendents, all the board members, everybody. And while they all talk about his acumen and knowledge, what they really drill down every single time is his character, integrity, what a good man he was, and how helpful he was to everybody. And at the end of the day, that is really what a legacy is: those attributes, what you did for other people, how you made people feel. He certainly did that for me, as well." "The truth is," Gray continued, "there are some people that leave an indelible mark, and Jerry Taylor certainly has left an indelible mark." "There's guys that do stuff, and there's guys who get stuff done," da Silva began. There are stars, and then there are legends. Jerry fits the legend category. "I had the privilege to come on the board when Jerry was already seasoned, and if it hadn't been for him, I probably would have ducked out a long time ago," he joked. He went on to explain how Taylor was always the kind of person who took the initiative to get things done. "Legend is the word that describes you. You're the one who took the reins; you drove the stage, and we just ran right alongside. You set the standard. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that and how much I've learned from you." After being presented with the gavel, Taylor took a moment to express his appreciation for all the staff and board members in the room. "When you see the brilliance [of the district's students], and you see how well they present themselves, how self-assured they are, that's what [being a board member] is all about," Taylor said. "And I can honestly say that every decision I made, everything I did, was focused on making our system better. So these kids, in turn, would have every opportunity afforded to them by public education. That was always the thing that drove me." His final comments were met with a standing ovation from his fellow educators in the audience, each eager to show their appreciation for his service to the county. Although he is officially retired as a member of the school board, Taylor plans to remain involved in education advocacy and community service as a mentor and volunteer with Take Stock in Children and Reading Pals. The next Suwannee County School Board regular meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the district office, located at 1740 Ohio Ave. S, in Live Oak.