Mississippi Senate denies Board of Education’s pick for State Superintendent

The Mississippi Board of Education selected Robert Taylor Ph.D. to be State Superintendent in November of last year, contingent upon a later confirmation by the Senate. Taylor was cleared by the Senate Education Committee earlier this week. But Chairman Dennis DeBarr tells the Associated Press he did not feel Taylor was qualified to assist with low-performing schools.

Senator DeBarr says “I think what really hurt Dr. Taylor based on what I’ve heard is we have several low-performing schools in our state and we would like to see someone with a better resume on improving low-performing schools.”

DeBarr says he did not believe Taylor’s race had an effect on the outcome, but all Black members of the body united after the vote claiming otherwise.

Taylor grew up in Laurel and attended the University of Southern Mississippi, though some lawmakers continued to criticize his qualifications as he had spent 30 years out of state with his wife who worked in the military. Democratic Senator David Jordan of Greenwood says Taylor is more than qualified to do the job, but was judged by the color of his skin.

Senator Jordan says “He’s a Mississippian who went to North Carolina and worked in that system. That system’s grading is higher than Mississippi’s. And he came home to serve, and we reject him for whatever reason other than the fact that God made him Black.”

All Democrats and five Republicans voted to confirm Taylor’s appointment, but 31 Republicans voted down the nomination. The Mississippi Board of Education must now appoint a new interim State Superintendent.