James Brainard Taylor (January 28, 1927 – April 26, 2016) was one of the first African American principals in Los Angeles and went on to serve in the No.

[1][2] He served as a staff sergeant in the Army, where he taught math to fellow soldiers.

[1][2] In 1957, Taylor moved into administration when he was hired as a vice principal at John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley.

This was the first time that a Black person was in charge of a high school in LAUSD with a predominantly white student body.

[1] The Ánimo James B. Taylor Charter Middle School in Watts is named after him.