Dr. Russell Dyer, Director of Cleveland City Schools announces that Mr. Hal Taylor, Cleveland City Schools’ director of operations, was celebrated as one of two finalists for the Tennessee Department of Education’s RISE Award at an event in Nashville on Thursday.
The RISE Award was created by Congress in 2019 and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Education to honor classified school employees, such as administrative, food and nutrition, health and student service, transportation or custodial staff, who provide exemplary service to students and their communities. In coordination with the Governor’s Office, the Tennessee Department of Education selected the two finalists from a pool of nominees submitted from across the State of Tennessee by local educational agencies, school administrators, professional associations, nonprofits, parents and community members. The U.S. Department of Education will announce the national honoree and present the individual with an award in the spring.
Mr. Taylor is in his 10th year with Cleveland City Schools and supervises all transportation and
maintenance services for the district. Dr. Russell Dyer had this to share about Mr. Taylor’s
recognition, “Hal Taylor is an example for each of us in the field of education. His hard work,
dedication and willingness to improve the lives of our students and staff drives him to provide
the very best facilities and transportation services. The RISE Award is an appropriate
recognition for Mr. Taylor's work. Not only does he perform all of his job duties on a regular
basis, but he rises above this daily to ensure the very best for all stakeholders in our district. I
commend Mr. Taylor not only for how he performs his job, but also for his character and desire
to do what is right each and every day.”
Governor Bill Lee said this about the two finalists, “I’m proud to honor Mr. Hinerman and Mr. Taylor for their exemplary service to Tennessee students. These individuals have worked hard to maintain positive learning environments for their communities, and they play a critical role in preparing students for success beyond the classroom.”