Taylor ISD families, 

The Thanksgiving Break is here! I hope you all have a wonderful week surrounded by family and loved ones. I want to take a moment to express how grateful I am to be part of this incredible community. As your superintendent and more importantly, as a parent in this district, I hope you and your children enjoy a truly special and memorable Thanksgiving holiday.

Watching my own children grow up so quickly is a powerful reminder of just how fast childhood passes. At the Senior Night football game, I saw cheer parents bring photo posters of their students in elementary, and to look up and see them cheering at their last games as seniors - it was a touching reminder for me, and I hope it is for all of us: take the time to enjoy, connect, and create lasting memories.

I’m thankful for your support as parents of our students by voting in the November election and deciding to invest in the future of Taylor students. Both the School Bond and Funding Election passed. Current and generations of future students will benefit from renovated and new state-of-the-art facilities that reflect the love and care we have for every single child that walks through our doors. In addition, due to the new funding received, full-time staff will receive a $1,000 incentive payment, and part-time staff will receive $500, in recognition of their work toward our academic goals.

Thank you for supporting Taylor ISD and helping us build a district where students receive a well-rounded education that prepares them for life after high school, wherever their dreams may lead.

Let’s be grateful for every moment, both big and small. 

Have a safe and restful Thanksgiving Break! 

~ Jen 

Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, Ph.D.

Taylor ISD Superintendent

Congratulations to our November Superintendent 1+ Coin of Excellence recipients!

Ms. Kelly Windham, our Staff Recipient, and Emma Liles, our Student Recipient, are both from Legacy Early College High School.

Check out their surprise moments and see what Principal Erika Cantwell had to say about why they are so deserving of this honor!

In celebration of the coming Thanksgiving holiday, our schools welcomed more than 300 family members last week to have holiday meals with their students. Our halls and cafeterias were filled with joy and smiles, tight hugs, and yummy lunches prepared with care for all our students. This is a special reminder of the importance of families in our schools, celebrating our community with our students and sharing the power of unity. 

Thank you to everyone who participated and made this a memorable time of year! 

This fall, our Taylor HS Career Technical Education (CTE) students have visited Taylor MS weekly to highlight the variety of pathways open to rising high school students. Our eighth graders have gotten an inside and hands-on look at the pathways, ranging from welding to business, our new Electrical Technology pathway, and more in hopes of sparking interest in a field they could enter soon after graduation. 

Each visit featured a demonstration and the opportunity to ask current THS students about their experiences in the pathways! It’s events like this that show our students what the possibilities are! 

We recently celebrated students who achieved perfect scores on the 2024 STAAR writing test! This special event recognized their hard work, creativity, and dedication to excellence in writing.

The celebration featured an open-mic format, giving students the chance to share their STAAR essays or personal pieces with family, friends, and staff cheering them on. Each student also received a “Perfect 10” yard sign, a fun way to celebrate their accomplishment and highlight their talent to the community. 

This recognition also reflects the support and guidance of our teachers, who helped students prepare, build confidence, and succeed on a challenging exam. These students’ achievements are a true testament to their talent and perseverance, and they exemplify the spirit of what it means to be a 1+ student in Taylor ISD.

You can now nominate students, teachers, and staff who lead with this motto for the Superintendent 1+ Coin of Excellence! The recognition honors those who embody the 1+ mission through their leadership, character, service, and demonstrated commitment to excellence.

One student and one teacher or staff member will be selected for the recognition each month from the nominations provided. Any student, teacher, and staff member can be nominated for the recognition. Recipients will be celebrated at the monthly school board meeting.

Nominations are open all year, so recognize someone who deserves it today using the links below!