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Johnny Taylor made a lasting impact on countless lives throughout his career in education and was recently announced as the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools’ 2025 Dr. James A. Street Award recipient.

Spanning more than three decades, Taylor’s career began with four years of service in the United States Air Force, followed by 32 years in education. Throughout his career, he served as a teacher, coach, and principal, with 22 of those years as a principal, 19 of which were spent at Red Level School.

“I was stunned when I found out I’d been selected for the award,” Taylor said. “My first thought was, ‘They must be at the bottom of the barrel.’ Given my age and how long I’ve been retired, I was really surprised. Knowing what Dr. Street stood for in education, I’m truly humbled and honored.”

The Dr. James A. Street Award, presented by the CLAS Board of Directors, recognizes individuals, institutions, or organizations for their exceptional service to administrators, supervisors, and public education. The award can honor a significant contribution in a single year or a series of contributions over time.

Taylor, who majored in Physical Education and minored in Special Education, retired from his educational career in 2005.

His accomplishments include being named State Principal of the Year, serving as CLAS President in 2002, completing a four-year term on the National Association of Secondary School Principals Board, and serving a decade-long tenure on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council.

“This award reflects the support I received from those I worked with professionally. Early in my career as an administrator, finding the right path for professional growth was a challenge. Covington County Schools always had excellent principals, and I made it a point to learn as much as I could from them to ensure my success,” he said.

Before moving to Red Level, Taylor served as head basketball coach for the junior high team at Florala and as an assistant football coach at the high school level.

“That was a great experience. We had fantastic kids, and I learned a lot. The staff at Florala was top-notch. We won a lot of games, and our kids worked incredibly hard,” Taylor said.

Taylor always envisioned a leadership role in education and credited his start in administration to then-Florala High School principal Erskine Ziglar.

“It started as an unpaid, volunteer role before I moved into the assistant principal position. Eventually, when the opportunity for a principalship came, I still had ambitions of coaching. I’ve had a great career with no regrets,” he said.

After spending eight years in the classroom, Taylor made a transition into administration.

“Nothing made me prouder than seeing our students excel whether that was academically or athletically. I was also proud when our teachers achieved something special or when our school earned recognition. I truly hope I made a positive impact on the lives of both students and teachers,” he said.

Taylor felt especially honored to receive the Dr. James A. Street Award, which recognizes both the professional development and the high standards of CLAS.

“CLAS is an outstanding organization that offers administrators professional development opportunities. The way they handle it is so professional. They’re experts in professional growth, and the state relies on them for accountability,” he said.

Taylor feels a sense of pride following in the footsteps of Dr. Street and shares the same passion for education.

“Dr. Street always wanted the best for education in Alabama, and I shared that same goal. I wanted our children to receive the best education possible and have a strong foundation for their futures,” he said.

Reflecting on his career, he offered heartfelt advice to new educators entering the field.

“Stay the course. Remember, children don’t care how much you know. They want to know how much you care,” Taylor said.

As he looks back, Taylor hopes his students will remember his legacy.

“I just hope they remember me as someone who genuinely cared about them. We always had their best interests at heart and did our best to provide them with a quality education,” he said.

The support he received from his family, friends, former colleagues, and the community has meant the world to him.

“I get a lot of positive feedback from former students, faculty, and my family. It means so much to me to hear that after such a successful career,” Taylor said.

He was married to Cynthia Taylor for 51 years before her passing. They had two children, Ben Taylor and Mary Anne Taylor, and two grandchildren, Mary Taylor and Annabelle Taylor.