Tom Taylor, Head of School, The Paideia School

In an interview with Focus:, Tom Taylor, head of school at The Paideia School, emphasized the school’s commitment to progressive education, holistic development, and community engagement. “This means we believe children arrive at school as whole individuals; our job is to nurture the light already within them.”

What is your overview of the school and what were some of the major milestones achieved in the past 12 months?

The Paideia School is an independent, progressive school located in the Druid Hills neighborhood of Atlanta. We serve just over 1,000 students, ranging from age 3 through 12th grade. I’m the second Head of School in our history — my predecessor founded Paideia in 1971 and led it for 52 years. This is my third year in this role, and as you can imagine, the leadership transition was a significant moment for the community. We’re now in the midst of a strategic planning process that we hope will help us as we look to the future.

Our high-school students go on to attend excellent colleges and universities, as you’d expect from any top independent school in Atlanta. Our athletic programs are also highly regarded. For instance, our girls’ Ultimate Frisbee team recently won the state tournament and is ranked fifth in the nation. Both our boys’ and girls’ soccer teams have won state championships in the past three years, and our boys’ basketball team finished second in the state last year.

Beyond athletics, we’re also known for our exceptional arts program, which includes music, orchestra, band, theater, and musical theater. 

One of the most distinctive aspects of our school is that we’re proudly progressive. This means we believe children arrive at school as whole individuals; our job is to nurture the light already within them. We take a unique educational approach, especially in our elementary and middle schools, where we use multi-age classrooms through eighth grade. In all levels of the school, teachers design responsive curricula tailored to the needs of the individual students in their classrooms.

What do you think drives consistent excellence in so many areas at Paideia?

It’s because our students understand that achievement is holistic. They recognize that staying physically active and being involved in sports can actually improve their cognitive abilities and teamwork skills — skills they might also use on the mock trial team or in the Science Olympiad, both of which are strong programs for us.

Our students tend to have diverse interests, and we look for that during the admissions process. We also cultivate it very intentionally from the earliest grades. One of my favorite things about our school is how seriously we take students’ questions — the adults in the room make it clear that student voices matter. That builds confidence, which later allows them to explore a wide range of interests in high school. At Paideia, being smart and deeply involved is not only respected, it’s cool. Kids are embraced for who they are. 

How have changing demographics impacted enrollment, and what initiatives are in place to promote socioeconomic and cultural diversity within the student body?

We work hard to reflect the diversity of the city we serve. Though we are a tuition-charging school, we offer over $4.5 million annually in need-based financial aid. Families apply for assistance, and we do our best to ensure that cost is not a barrier for qualified students.

Our values are at the core of everything we do, and those include commitments to diversity, equity, and egalitarianism. We aim to be inclusive and foster a true sense of belonging. We have parent affinity groups that help foster community among families who may seek additional support when joining our school. These groups are an important part of how we build deeper, more meaningful connections within our increasingly diverse city. 

Are there key partnerships with the business community or other ways you help students build the skills they’ll need for the future?

Although we emphasize the importance of learning for its own sake — one of our core values is the appreciation of the present — we also recognize that we’re preparing students for the future. We’re fortunate to have a robust network of alumni and parents who are actively engaged. For example, we recently hosted a program featuring African American men in the medical field who spoke with our African American boys about careers in medicine.

We also have the Paideia Entrepreneurship Network, a group of parents and alumni who mentor students and help them explore entrepreneurial paths. Additionally, our internship program connects students with professionals in fields like architecture, medicine, and computer science.

Another unique aspect is our urban farm in East Atlanta, which produces around 9,000 pounds of food each year. It’s managed by staff and students and provides a real-world connection to sustainability, food systems, and local engagement. These experiences help our students build a deep sense of responsibility — to the Earth and to their communities — which naturally shapes how they approach their future careers.

What are some of the biggest challenges the school is facing?

One major challenge for all schools is attracting and retaining exceptional teachers. Balancing fair compensation, especially with rising inflation, while keeping tuition at accessible levels is a constant area of focus. We aim to provide appropriate cost-of-living raises without pricing families out.

Another challenge is navigating the national discourse around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). We are committed to these values, and will remain true to them. But the national context is making that more and more challenging. 

Lastly, the evolving media and AI landscape presents a real educational challenge. Students are bombarded with information from countless sources. Teaching them to critically evaluate that content, understand biases, and recognize when content is AI-generated is crucial. We want our students to be discerning thinkers who can navigate this complex information ecosystem with confidence and integrity.

What partnerships or programs involve the local community?

Community engagement is central to our mission. All students contribute both to the school and the broader community. Many participate in internships with local nonprofits, food banks, or civic organizations.

For example, our director of civic engagement recently led a discussion about how we respond to the unhoused population in our neighborhood. Instead of viewing it as a problem to fix, we approach it with empathy and partnership, and in a way that is grounded in our values.

Our farm is deeply connected to the local community too. We donate much of our produce to food banks and also run a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program with a sliding-scale payment system. Some families pay full price, while others pay significantly less, ensuring access to fresh, healthy food across different income levels. It’s one more way we live out our values and teach students about interconnectedness and service.

What is your vision for the future of the school over the next five years?

As I mentioned, we are in the midst of a comprehensive strategic planning process that will help guide our work for the next few years. While we are not yet done with this process yet, the emerging themes for our focus are highly consistent with our values: continued work in DEIB; continuing to attract, recruit, and retain the best teachers; and improvements to our beautiful campus.

We’re also currently renovating and expanding our athletic facilities in Avondale Estates, about 15 minutes east of campus. We’re also exploring ways to grow our financial aid program further. We understand that the cost of an independent school education extends beyond tuition, so we aim to support families with those additional expenses as well.

Another exciting development is our high school travel program, which has expanded significantly. This year, students traveled to Thailand, Mexico, and Western Europe, and we’re soon sending a group to India. These experiences offer authentic, global learning that helps our students see themselves as citizens of the world.

Looking ahead, I’m excited about continuing to honor our legacy while evolving thoughtfully to meet the needs of today’s — and tomorrow’s — students.