Image courtesy of ACPS
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At this evening’s Special Called School Board Meeting, the School Board and Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt agreed to modify her separation agreement to reflect that effective August 12, 2026, she will conclude her service as superintendent of Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), earlier than anticipated. Here's more on the matter, from ACPS:
The School Board is grateful to Dr. Kay-Wyatt for her time, leadership and service to ACPS, and we thank her for her commitment to our students, staff, families and community. We wish her well on her retirement after 30 years of service in public education.
To provide continuity and steady leadership during this transition, the School Board has appointed Dr. Grace Taylor to serve as acting superintendent until the next superintendent is hired and able to begin serving in the role.
"Transitions in leadership are important moments for any school division, and the School Board is committed to ensuring ACPS continues moving forward with stability and purpose," said School Board Chair Christopher Harris. "Dr. Grace Taylor is a trusted leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our students, staff, families and community. We have every confidence in her ability to guide our school division through the start of the new school year while maintaining the momentum of our important work. On behalf of the School Board, I also want to thank Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt for her years of service to ACPS and wish her all the best in her retirement after three decades of dedicated service to public education."
Dr. Taylor’s appointment as acting superintendent will allow ACPS to maintain stability during this transition, particularly as the division prepares to welcome students and staff for the start of the 2026–27 school year.
Dr. Taylor has served as chief of staff for ACPS since December 18, 2023, where she has been responsible for the strategic management and operation of the superintendent’s office and has led special projects on behalf of the superintendent, in addition to serving as designee in the superintendent’s absence.
Most notably, since September 2025, she has also served in an interim capacity to help fill the chief operating officer vacancy, providing leadership and continuity for the Facilities and Operations team while the school division conducted a national search for a permanent replacement. Throughout this nearly year-long period, she successfully balanced these additional responsibilities while continuing to lead the superintendent’s office and oversee the School Board Office team, ensuring strong alignment and collaboration between the School Board and school division leadership.
“Returning to lead the school division that helped shape who I am is truly a full-circle moment," said Acting Superintendent Dr. Grace Taylor. "As a proud ACPS graduate, educator and former principal, it is an incredible honor to serve our students, staff, families and community during this important time of transition. As we prepare to welcome students back for a new school year, my focus is on ensuring a strong, stable start while continuing the important work already underway across our schools.”
Dr. Taylor spent her entire K-12 academic career at ACPS, beginning at George Mason Elementary School followed by George Washington Middle School. She is also a proud Titan graduate from the class of 1987, having attended Alexandria City High School (ACHS) when it was known as T.C. Williams High School, and has a deep history of leadership and service within the school division.
Over the course of her career, Dr. Taylor has served in numerous leadership roles in ACPS, including as principal of George Washington Middle School, the Minnie Howard School and John Adams Elementary School. In 2008, while serving at Minnie Howard, she was recognized as a principal of excellence and received the Distinguished Educational Leadership Award from The Washington Post. She also previously served as principal on assignment in the superintendent’s office and as executive associate principal for special education at ACHS.
During her previous assignment in the Superintendent’s Office, she successfully initiated the partnerships for the George Mason University Early Identification Program and the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Program, and she launched the Senior Experience to support student readiness for college, career and life.
Before returning to ACPS in 2023, Dr. Taylor served with Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), including as interim assistant superintendent and executive principal supporting principals and school communities in Region 3, as well as Cluster 5 director. Earlier in her career, she served as a high school principal in both Boulder, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Emory University, a Master of Education and Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Virginia Tech.
The School Board is confident Dr. Taylor’s extensive experience, deep knowledge of ACPS and longstanding commitment to the Alexandria community will provide strong and steady leadership during this important transition.
The School Board continues to move forward with its search for the next permanent superintendent of ACPS. We appreciate the continued support and partnership of our students, staff, families and community as we begin a new school year and continue our focus on providing every student with a high-quality educational experience.
