Matt Taylor Named Executive Director of California Montessori Project

At Edgility, we know that great organizations need great leaders. That’s why we’re proud to spotlight our recent placement of Matt Taylor as Executive Director of the California Montessori Project (CMP), a network of tuition-free TK-8 Montessori schools serving over 2,700 students. With a mission to provide high-quality education that helps students reach their full potential, CMP sought a leader who could carry its values forward, deeply engage the community, and guide the organization into its next phase of growth. We were honored to partner with CMP to place Matt Taylor as Executive Director, and we're excited to share insights into the process and what made Matt an exceptional choice.

Inclusive Executive Search for Charter School Leadership

Edgility believes strongly in the importance of including multiple voices in the search process, in fact, it’s what sets us apart from typical search firms. For this engagement, our team was inspired by our close partnership with CMP’s board, staff, families, and community partners. Our team worked diligently to gather insights through campus visits, surveys, and a town hall to ensure a thorough, equitable, and inclusive process.

By designing surveys, gathering both qualitative and quantitative insights, and providing anti-bias training for the board, Edgility ensured a fair, transparent, and community-informed hiring process. As one CMP representative shared, “Edgility brought both rigor and care to the process. They balanced technical expertise with genuine partnership, which made this a very positive and productive process for us.” From the beginning, CMP’s highest priority was alignment between its board, staff, and families on the qualities and experience desired in a leader. Edgility’s approach not only met this need but also created a structured process where every stakeholder had a voice, fostering trust and confidence in the final selection. As CMP reflects, this work ensured that, "our search committee and board was grounded, organized, and supported through every step of the process.” 

Montessori Leadership: Finding Alignment with CMP Mission and Values

CMP was looking for a leader with strong knowledge of the California charter school landscape, an authentic care for students and families, and proven leadership in the education sector. It was paramount that their new leader was someone who could connect authentically with the unique community that makes up CMP, so the team devised a special engagement for finalist candidates. All finalist candidates were invited to engage directly with a representative group of stakeholders. They all were able to present their vision for the organization to the group, and answer questions from families and staff. This approach gave the community an authentic voice in the selection process, and allowed the candidates to meet the community that they might lead. 

When brought into this engagement, Matt shone. His deep knowledge of California charter schools, demonstrated commitment to student and family success, strong record of educational leadership, and deep enthusiasm for the Montessori model made him a natural fit.

The CMP board ultimately selected Matt for his combination of experience, alignment with CMP’s values, and ability to connect authentically with people. One board member shared, “Matt not only understood our priorities but was committed to living them out,” highlighting why he was the clear choice to lead CMP forward.

Matt echoes this sentiment, noting, “The opportunity to lead an organization I have long admired, with a mission focused on fostering a love of learning and preparing children to be global citizens, deeply resonated with my personal and professional values.” He also highlighted Edgility’s approach, calling it “exceptionally well-organized and holistic,” which allowed him to truly understand CMP’s culture and connect meaningfully with its community.

Matt Taylor Drives Academic Growth and Staff Success

Matt leads his team with a strong vision, a longstanding admiration for CMP, and a passion for charter schools. Since joining CMP, he has already made a measurable impact. Matt proudly shared a few of CMP’s early achievements since he became Executive Director:

• CMP is seeing steady academic growth in English Language Arts and Math across the organization.

• The organization has engaged fiscal management strategies, maintaining positive budgets while improving operational systems.

• Matt’s focus on his team has improved staff retention and morale. CMP just completed a comprehensive compensation review and implementation of higher salaries, something that Matt says is “vital to attracting and retaining top talent.”

• The organization’s culture has blossomed, becoming stronger at new opportunities for collaboration, and maintaining transparency through regular communication across campuses.

Looking ahead, Matt is leading his team to success by leaning into CMP’s strategic priorities:

• Matt is hard at work developing CMP’s ‘Portrait of a Learner and Core Commitments’, which will guide curriculum, organizational culture, and CMP’s strategic plan.

• Matt and his team are focused on ensuring CMP’s Long-term viability. An integral part of his work over the next year, will be to lead charter renewals to ensure CMP’s future success.  

On his work and his team, Matt emphasizes, “We are focused on ensuring our programs reflect our mission and that we continue to provide a high-quality Montessori education for every student.” Through strategic planning and forward-thinking leadership, Matt aims to solidify CMP’s position as a premier charter school organization in California. We’re certain that the team is in good hands with Matt at the helm, and we look forward to sharing more of Matt’s journey with CMP in the future.

Executive Search - Edgility’s Version: Placing Leaders Who Advance Education Missions

At Edgility, our mantra is Find, Hire, Keep. Which translates into supporting organizations to find, hire, and keep exceptional leaders who advance the missions of outstanding organizations. Partnering with CMP to place Matt Taylor, and continuing to support him and CMP through the first year, demonstrates how intentional, inclusive executive search can align vision, values, and leadership to create lasting impact for students, families, and communities.

From discovery to placement to ongoing support, Edgility ensures that leaders not only fit organizational needs but also inspire communities and drive meaningful results. As CMP reflected, “Edgility not only understands the complexities of charter school leadership, but they also excel at elevating community voice and supporting fair decision-making.” CMP’s experience is a testament to how strategic executive search can connect the right leader with the right organization, fostering growth, stability, and positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

If you’re ready to learn more about our process or would like to chat with one of our experts, reach out to us here. We’re excited to help your organization find, hire, or keep excellent leadership.