Meet Andrew Taylor – LCC Class of 2021
Andrew Taylor
Andrew Taylor grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia. Following graduation from Morgantown High School in 1994, he allowed his faith and religious upbringing in the Church of the Nazarene to lead him to Mount Vernon Nazarene University, earning a degree in religious studies in 1998. He continued his education in Kansas City, Missouri and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 2001.
After working as a pastor to youth and families in West Virginia, Taylor was offered the opportunity to return to Ohio and work in the office of student development at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. At MVNU he worked as a residential director and adjunct instructor. During that time he also attended the University of Nebraska, completing all of the coursework toward a doctorate in educational administration with an emphasis in youth development. (He remains as all-but-dissertation status.)
It was Taylor’s interest in youth development that led him to change careers and begin working for Behavioral Healthcare Partners of Central Ohio as a mental-health case manager for children and teens. After gaining more experience in case-management services, in 2012 he began working as a service and support administrator at the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities. It was there he began to fully develop his passion for supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.
Taylor has been with the Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities for nearly nine years: first as a service and support administrator and then as a director of service and support administration for the last six years. He is now excited to have joined the team at the Coshocton County Board of DD on June 1, 2020, in that same role.
Before officially beginning work in Coshocton, Taylor was able to work with CCBDD superintendent Steve Oster to write and receive three grants that have positively impacted Coshocton County: a technology grant with the OSU Nisonger Center that helped individuals with disabilities and their families learn more about adaptive and assistive technologies that are available (2019); Multi-System Youth Respite Grant (2018), which helped provide respite opportunities and additional training related to youth with DD and their families; and an additional Multi-System Youth Grant (2020), which helped provide respite opportunities for youth and their families and provided additional paraprofessional support to the “Beyond the Bell” after-school program at Ridgewood Local Schools.
As the director of service support administration at CCBDD, Taylor works with a team of service and support administrators and an employment navigator to provide programming for individuals with developmental disabilities, give support to families, and teach individuals how to seek community employment and learn to advocate for themselves. He works with various Medicaid programs to provide services and assists in the development of local programs and resources. Overall, CCBDD wants to ensure individuals with developmental disabilities have what they need to live “their best lives.”
Taylor is affiliated with many professional organizations including serving as a board member for National Alliance for Mental Illness of Licking/Knox Counties (2015-17) and Pathways of Central Ohio – 211 (2017-20). He also serves on the steering committee for the Crisis Intervention Training for law enforcement in Knox County, Knox Family and Children First Council Community Team, and Knox Substance Abuse Action Team, along with being a member of New Life Church of the Nazarene. He also is a member of the “Beyond the Bell” advisory committee for Ridgewood Local Schools.
Taylor is interested in continuing his work with boards and organizations here in Coshocton.
Taylor is a 2016 graduate of Leadership Knox, where he learned about community resources and made connections in the community. Once he began working in Coshocton County, he knew learning about community resources, finding value and making connections were paramount to his work with CCBDD. He has been able to develop resources within the class and see the Coshocton community from so many different perspectives. The program days have introduced him to areas of the county he would have otherwise not been introduced to.
The community Taylor grew up in was similar to Coshocton. He said there are lots of important community and personal connections in this county, which he sees as “at a crossroads.”
“There are a lot of great things emerging. There are great people here and a lot of growing businesses. People care about the community and their neighbors. The right people are connecting and have a vision for the future,” Taylor said.
To make the county stronger, Taylor would like to see more opportunities for people with a developmental disability to be employed in the community and integrate into the fabric of the community.
“People with developmental disabilities have something to offer the community — diversity of opinion and experience,” Taylor said.
Taylor would recommend Leadership Coshocton for others. His agency is very supportive, and he said, “I have enjoyed participating in Leadership Coshocton because it has given me a great opportunity to meet people, learn more about the resources and opportunities here, and see Coshocton from so many different angles. It has really grown my appreciation for the people, businesses and community partnerships in the county.”
Taylor began working at the Coshocton County Board of Developmental Disabilities officially in June and said, “I have loved getting to know the community and the great people here. It is great being a part of the CCBDD team, and I am humbled to be a part of such a strong and caring organization.”
Taylor said his family is very important to him. He is married to his wife of 19 years, Christy, and is father to Abby, 17; Sophie, 14; Molly, 12; and Levi, 4.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
