Asian named as South Philadelphia High’s assistant principal

Kimlime Chek-Taylor, a veteran Philadelphia educator of Cambodian descent, has been named assistant principal at troubled South Philadelphia High School, fulfilling Superintendent Arlene Ackerman’s earlier notice that she would name an Asian to the post.

Chek-Taylor was previously dean of students at John Taggart, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school.

She immigrated to this country as a child with her family, learning to speak English through school classes, a life experience that mirrors those of many Asian students at South Philadelphia High.