- Product of Windsor’s elementary schools retires after 32 years
as teacher and administrator
by NATHAN WRIGHT, Staff Writer
When Brooks Elementary Principal Joe Taylor began his academic
career in Windsor, he was sitting behind a student’s desk in grade
school. Last week he finished his 32-year career in the Windsor
Unified School District, working as a classroom teacher, then an
assistant principal, and finally as principal.
Looking back, Taylor is happy with his decision to move from the
classroom to administration. “It worked out fine,” he said. “I
really enjoyed the challenges. There’s never a dull moment.”
When Taylor first began teaching in Windsor in 1971, the Union
Elementary School District K-6 had only two schools and
approximately 750 students. In his 32 years, he’s watched as the
town grew from 1,500 people to nearly 25,000. In that time, the
district pushed for a middle school, and finally a high school,
paving the way for the current K-12 Windsor Unified School
District.
In a letter sent to parents, Taylor addressed these times of
change. “I know the community and the school board must feel very
proud of all your efforts to bring about a Windsor Unified School
District serving K-12 and for providing state of the art facilities
at the Middle and High School,” he wrote. “I am proud to have
worked with so many dedicated people to bring about the positive
changes in our school.”
Taylor was a Windsor kid and a graduate of Healdsburg High. He
attended Southern Oregon College in Ashland, earning a teaching
credential before returning to Windsor in 1971. He then began
teaching as a substitute, and was later hired as a full-time
teacher. Taylor remembers a one-time Windsor superintendent, asking
him: “Joe, have you ever thought of becoming an administrator?” He
accepted a position as assistant principal, which later led to a
career as a principal.
Windsor Superintendent Robert Carter acknowledged Taylor’s
accomplishments, and said he will be missed. “The WUSD is truly
going to miss the leadership provided over his years of service,”
he said.
What will Taylor be doing in his retirement? “I’m going to enjoy
the outdoors,” said Taylor, who left for a family vacation in
Alaska this week. He also said that he will be returning to the
district as a volunteer in the future. “I’ve always liked working
with people,” he said.
Replacing Taylor is another Windsor native, Shannyn Vehmeyer.
Taylor said she has worked as a teacher for the past six to seven
years, and he is confident in her abilities.
Now that the school year is complete, and a new principal
assigned, Taylor is left to ponder his retirement. “My career in
education is pretty much over,” he said. “It’s a strange
feeling.”
