Congratulations to Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District Superintendent Dr. Paul Taylor, who was recently recognized by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) for outstanding performance as an emerging superintendent!
Dr. Taylor was nominated for the honor by his colleagues in the Southeast MASA District. He was honored during the awards banquet at the MASA Spring Conference on March 26.
This award is presented annually to superintendents in their second or third year of service who have made measurable contributions to the school districts they lead. Dr. Taylor’s leadership over the past two years has exemplified this distinction.
As assistant superintendent, Dr. Taylor played a critical leadership role in Prop SG, a $20 million facilities initiative launched under the direction of his predecessor Dr. Julie Flieg. After the bond issue was developed and passed—earning more than 70 percent voter approval—Dr. Taylor helped shepherd it forward by recommending the use of a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) process and securing an additional $2.8 million through the sale of the bonds, as well as interest on those monies. He then managed the complexities of design and construction across three campus sites.
Now serving as Superintendent, Dr. Taylor continues to lead the district through the implementation phase of Prop SG. Notable outcomes include the construction of the new Early Childhood Center (opening in August 2025), a project designed to provide foundational academic experiences and support for the district’s youngest learners.
“While only in his second year as Superintendent, Dr. Taylor’s guidance, leadership, and determination are providing superb results for our district,” said Board of Education President David Bova. “He has remained devoted to providing the supports and guidance necessary for our district to deliver outstanding academic opportunities for our students. The Board of Education is thrilled to offer him our congratulations on this well-deserved recognition.”
Beyond Prop SG, Dr. Taylor has led the district through several major initiatives. He oversaw the transition to in-house transportation, navigated extenuating budget circumstances while continuing to deliver for staff and teachers, and took on a leadership role in the Mineral Area regional health insurance consortium to help manage evolving healthcare needs. Through these challenges, he has kept administration and the Board focused on long-term outcomes for students and staff.
Dr. Taylor has spent 22 years of his career with the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District. He began teaching in 1997 as a middle school general science teacher at Perry County School District, later serving as a graduate teaching assistant at Southeast Missouri State University and a high school biology instructor at Perry County before joining SG R-II in 2003. He served as a high school biology teacher for nine years before stepping into administrative roles, including middle school assistant principal, middle school principal, assistant superintendent, and deputy superintendent.
Throughout his tenure, he has been an active contributor to district-wide initiatives, serving as chair, co-chair, or member of numerous committees, including the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) Committee, Professional Development (PD) Committee, Facilities Committee, Wellness Committee, and PLC Implementation Committee. He is a member of the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA).
Dr. Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Southeast Missouri State University in 1997, his Master of Natural Science in Biology from SEMO in 2002, his Master of Arts in Education from SEMO in 2011, his Specialist in Education from SEMO in 2013, and his Doctor of Education from Missouri Baptist University in 2016.