The first day of school featured a first for the Hamden Hall community that was theoretically related to the start of the new school year – the presentation of the inaugural Medal of Distinction to Dr. Barbara Olin Taylor.

A lifelong education advocate, Dr. Taylor was honored for her extraordinary contribution in the field of education, civic leadership, and philanthropic outreach. In the Hamden Hall community, Dr. Taylor is a past parent (her four sons were all enrolled at Hamden Hall), former faculty member, and longtime supporter. She was married to F. Morgan “Buzz” Taylor, a past trustee and chairman of the board, who died in 2010.

“Dr. Taylor was one of the pioneers who contributed significantly to both the content and contextual conceptions of the Effective Schools Process, a comprehensive approach to school reform, which was implemented successfully in over 300 school districts in the U.S. and in over 30 countries throughout the world,” remarked Head of School Bob Izzo in presenting the medal to Dr. Taylor during an all-school assembly. “The Effective Schools Process provided the theoretical basis for Title 1 of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.”

Upon receipt of the medal and flowers from Student Government President Katherine Chi 2015, Kiley Herlihy 2019, and Theodora Aslan 2025, Dr. Taylor addressed the assembly.

“All of you are distinctive as distinction is the hallmark of Hamden Hall,” she told students, faculty, and staff. “Curriculum: distinctive. Faculty: distinctive. Administration: distinctive. Thank you. I am so honored to be one that is distinctive, distinct.”

The senior class and special guests, some of whom included Dr. Taylor’s son, Spencer Taylor 1976 and his wife, Claudia, past trustee Michael Schiavone 1959, several current trustees, and Phyllis McDowell, whose husband, Edward, was Hamden Hall’s Headmaster from 1957 to 1964, then moved to Swain Library to officially dedicate the Barbara Olin Taylor Learning Commons.

“Dr. Taylor: welcome to the Barbara Olin Taylor Learning Commons,” said Mr. Izzo, who then turned the microphone over to current parent and trustee Kyle Ballou-Johns for the unveiling of a portrait of Dr. Taylor and corresponding plaque.

“Now this is a surprise,” said Dr. Taylor as she observed the framed portrait hung to the right of the Learning Commons signage. She further noted that her son, Spencer, had honored her with the Learning Commons recognition last year for her 80th birthday. “When I see a school like this I’d like to be in first grade and starting all over again,” said Dr. Taylor. “This Learning Commons expresses everything I believe in. This is a place to learn to develop your strengths.”

Dr. Taylor has long been an education advocate, believing specifically in “academic equity” and working toward public school reform. She authored three books on the subject and earned her MBA and Ph.D. in education administration policy from Northwestern University.

Earlier in the day, Dr. Taylor and invited guests enjoyed several classroom visits and a tour of the Beckerman Athletic Center.

In concluding the day’s program, Mr. Izzo labeled Dr. Taylor an official “Hamden Hall legend.”