Schools
NAHS Principal Resigns to Head Gwinnett County High School
The North Atlanta High principal resigned Friday after less than a year at the Buckhead high school to take a new position in Lilburn.
On the same day he announced his resignation as principal of Buckhead's North Atlanta High School, Dr. Howard "Gene" Taylor was named as the new principal at Gwinnett County's Berkmar High School.
Taylor was named as the principal of Buckhead's only public high school in October 2012 after then-principal Mark MyGrant and other top administrators were removed by Atlanta Public School officials because of the school's low graduation rate and low student academic performance, according to APS Superintendent Erroll Davis. However, MyGrant said then he thought it may have something to do with two of his recent hires, whom were anonymous accused of being racists, according to news reports.
Taylor's last day at NAHS will be Dec. 1.
"This school is in much greater need. This school has been identified as a failing school for years. This school could not compete with North in any matter," said Taylor referring to Berkmar in the video to North Atlanta students. "They've got great kids and they've got great teachers trying to do great things," he added.
Prior to taking the position with Atlanta Public Schools, Taylor served as principal of Lilburn Middle School from 2008 until 2012. He also worked as principal of Crews Middle School in Lawrenceville from 2006 until 2008.
Berkmar's interim principal Jane Stegall will continue in her position until Taylor can transition from his current position.
In the attached video, Taylor explains his resignation in a video from the school's student news site, The Northerner.
Patch Editor Vanzetta Evans contributed to this report.
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