The Walnut Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees officially announced Robert Taylor as the new superintendent at a board meeting on May 15. Beginning his new superintendent duties on July 1, Taylor is currently the deputy superintendent of the Corona-Norco Unified School District.

“I’m excited [and] humbled to have this opportunity to work with fantastic people and such an outstanding district. The reputation of Walnut Valley speaks for itself,” Taylor commented.

Taylor started his administrative career as part of the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District; he has a wide range of experience, having worked as a director, principal, assistant principal, and teacher. He has a bachelor’s degree in English, a master’s degree in educational administration, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

“I’m going into a district that has a long, strong reputation for student achievement, that puts kids first and produces high results in the classroom,” Taylor said.

The Walnut Valley Unified School District former superintendent for the past three years, Dean Conklin, 57, will be leaving the district on June 30. Conklin spent 12 years as WVUSD assistant superintendent before moving to Duarte for five years as the Duarte Unified School District superintendent. Afterwards, he returned to Walnut and worked as superintendent.