Henry Taylor, a 1981 graduate of Ole Main High School, has joined the North Little Rock Board of Education. He serves Zone 2, representing Seventh Street Elementary School and North Little Rock High School and the Center of Excellence.
“My desire is to serve and give back after all that the school district, teachers, and coaches gave me. School was my happy place. I enjoyed learning, clubs, band, drama, and last, but not least, interacting with my classmates,” Taylor said.
Taylor is a proud 1981 graduate of Ole Main High School. However, his academic journey with the NLRSD began well before he became a Wildcat. He was enrolled in the Head Start program at Hemlock Court, then attending McRae Elementary School, Central Junior High School for seventh grade, Popular Street Junior High for eighth and ninth grades, and then finally Ole Main.
“Throughout my educational journey, I developed lasting friendships and was consistently challenged to excel by teachers at all levels. The North Little Rock School District provided the essential foundation for my personal and academic development, meeting me at my point of need and allowing me to flourish,” Taylor said.
After graduation, Taylor earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Arkansas State University-Beebe, followed by a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management with a minor in Military Science from Arkansas State University (ASU). He recently received a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources at Webster University.
Taylor served our country during Operation Desert Storm, deploying to Saudi Arabia with the 148th Evacuation Hospital of the Arkansas National Guard. He also served in Germany and Bosnia. Taylor then returned to the Natural State and served as a safety officer at ASU.
Over the course of 20 years, Taylor was employed at Frito-Lay, Dell, and L’Oréal. He serves as the Executive Secretary for the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.
He and his wife Jerrilyn have two daughters, Victoria and Carissa, who graduated from North Little Rock High School.
As Taylor reflects on his role on the Board of Education, he is reminded of the special educators who poured into him. Some of the educators include Mrs. Johnson at McRae Elementary School, Mr. Frank Boyle at Central Junior High School, Coach Hilton Chandler at Poplar Street Junior High School, and Mrs. Louise Schmidt and Mr. Frank Bryant at Ole Main High School. Taylor hopes his tenure on the Board of Education will allow educators to make a positive impact on the lives of students like the aforementioned educators had on his life.
“It is my hope for the North Little Rock School Board to create an environment where teachers, coaches, staff, and administrators have the resources, support, and training to engage with students at their current level of understanding. I hope to play some part in ensuring our staff has the necessary guidance and leadership to allow our students to achieve their goals and realize their full potential.”