In The Loop With Taylor ISD
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Taylor ISD families,
We’ve made it to winter break! Now that we’re heading into this well-deserved time to slow down, I want to take the opportunity to thank each of you for the commitment, care, and heart you give our students and share with our schools every single day. I am also deeply grateful for the trust you place in Taylor ISD and for partnering with us each and every day.
This week gave me the chance to step back and reflect on what has truly been an incredible semester. What stood out most was seeing how our staff came together to create such meaningful and joyful experiences for our students during the holiday season. From themed hallways to STEM-related holiday activities, student projects and academic achievements, this is truly an incredible school district filled with amazing parents, staff, and students. I am so proud and grateful to be your superintendent and to have the opportunity to serve this wonderful 1+ community.
I also want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for our volunteer groups, booster clubs, PTOs and our volunteers across the district. A short story, my two little ones at THJ came home this week beaming with excitement to give me a wrapped gift from the school store created by the THJ PTO. That moment meant so much to them and was a powerful reminder of just how impactful and a difference our community makes in our schools. Across all of our campuses, we are incredibly grateful for our PTOs and volunteers and the time, care, and generosity they pour into our schools.
The winter break offers us time to pause, reflect, and get some much-needed rest. I encourage you to enjoy this time with your loved ones in ways that are meaningful to you. I hope the break is joyful and includes a little time to slow down, snuggle up, and maybe even enjoy some reading with your kiddos.
On behalf of the Taylor ISD team, thank you for your continued support and involvement. We are incredibly grateful to serve this community and remain committed to providing a safe, supportive, and high-quality learning environment where every student can go above and beyond to reach their full potential.
Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season. We’ll see you all back in January!
~Jen
Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, Ph.D.
Taylor ISD Superintendent
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The past two weeks across Taylor ISD have been full of holiday music, creative displays, and moments of gratitude, community, and the joy of the season. With festive fine arts performances and acts of giving, our students, staff, and families truly brought the spirit of the holidays to life.
Our youngest learners practiced real-world skills like budgeting and decision-making at the THJ Holiday Shop, by thoughtfully choosing gifts for the people they love. At Legacy ECHS, students put service into action by sponsoring families in need through fundraising, shopping, and gift wrapping.
Throughout the district, campuses shared their holiday cheer through special performances by choirs, chorales, color guard, and bands. These moments remind us how special it is when our community comes together to support students and celebrate the season!
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Taylor ISD hosted its first-ever districtwide STEM Day across all elementary campuses and the middle school, giving students a full day to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in exciting, hands-on ways.
At THJ, students had a special opportunity to explore a mobile STEM lab brought by the Texas Education Agency, where interactive activities showed just how fun and engaging science can be. At MSE and NPE, students stepped inside a planetarium to learn about the stars and the universe beyond what we can see, making for an unforgettable experience. Across TMS and all elementary campuses, classrooms came alive with experiments and STEM challenges that encouraged teamwork, critical thinking, and exploration.
This impactful day was made possible through the support of our community partners, including Legacy ECHS Robotics Discovery Education, Greater Austin Regional Science & Engineering Fair, Temple College, Learning Undefeated, STARS, and Science Austin. Together, they helped create a day that celebrated innovation, curiosity, and the joy of learning.
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Our Legacy Early College High School robotics team earned an impressive 2nd place finish at the Texas BEST Robotics State Championship, competing in the Rookie Bowl, a division dedicated to first-year teams in the UIL competition. Their performance was nothing short of outstanding.
This achievement caps off a strong season for the Phoenixes, which also included a 3rd-place semifinal finish at the December Push Back VEX Competition. Throughout the year, the team demonstrated exceptional skill, teamwork, and perseverance.
We’re proud of how these students represented Legacy ECHS and Taylor ISD on the state stage. Congratulations to our Phoenix robotics team on an incredible season!
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This month, we’re proud to recognize the incredible teachers whose students consistently completed and passed at least two i-Ready lessons per week for four consecutive weeks. Why does this matter? Research shows that students who meet this goal are far more likely to experience accelerated learning, often achieving more than a year’s growth in a single school year.
This level of success doesn’t happen by accident. It reflects intentional, high-impact teaching, from teachers who closely monitor progress, quickly identify when students need extra support, and provide timely small-group instruction to keep learning on track. We’re excited to celebrate these educators for their dedication, expertise, and the powerful impact they make for students every day! 🌟📚
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Main Street ES:
- Mrs. Glover
- Mrs. Mahmoud
- Mrs. McCaffrey
- Ms. Barbisch
- Ms. Salters
Naomi Pasemann ES:
- Ms. Gola
- Mrs. Minzenmayer
- Mrs. Doss
- Mrs. Barrios
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TH Johnson ES:
- Mrs. Arellano
- Mrs. Day
- Mrs. Leeper
- Mrs. Shannon
- Mrs. Svrcek
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The Taylor MS counseling team, Candice Martin and Melissa Smith, recently earned the CREST (Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas) Award for the second year in a row!
Presented by the Texas School Counselor Association, the CREST Award recognizes outstanding school counseling programs that follow the Texas School Counseling Model and use data-driven practices to support students’ academic, career, and personal-social growth.
Since its launch in 2005, the CREST program has honored campuses that demonstrate a strong commitment to student success. We are proud of the Taylor Middle School counseling program and grateful for the daily impact Ms. Martin and Ms. Smith make for our students and families.
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Current 8th and 9th graders are invited to apply to Legacy Early College High School and get a head start on college! This is an opportunity to complete college courses for free through Temple College that count toward an associates degree.
That means, when you become a senior at LECHS, students can graduate with half of a bachelor’s degree already complete! Applications are now open! At LECHS, you can expect:
- A small school environment
- 60+ college credit hours (associates degree)
- Free tuition and books
Learn more about the process and have your student apply today at the link below.
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Over the past 18 months, Taylor ISD Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen participated in the highly selective Superintendent Leadership Program through the Holdsworth Center. The program brings together Texas superintendents to strengthen leadership skills and prepare them to navigate the evolving challenges of public education.
Through intensive sessions, collaboration with peers from across the state, and support from an experienced executive coach, Dr. Garcia deepened her leadership practice to better serve students, staff, and the community. Her completion of the program reflects both a personal milestone and Taylor ISD’s commitment to strong, stable leadership in support of student success.
“I’m grateful for the time I spend in this incredible program. I was afforded the opportunity to learn from school communities across the state to strengthen our district,” Dr. Garcia said. “This experience encouraged me to expand and grow my skills as a superintendent, and I’m eager to continue our One Plus work with students, staff, and the broader community.”
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We’ve launched our new district and campus websites, designed with our families in mind! Staying informed, connected, and engaged is now easier than ever.
With a cleaner layout, mobile-friendly navigation, and built-in ParentSquare access, everything you need is easier to access.
If you have any feedback on how we can improve the website experience, please fill out the feedback form linked below.
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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!
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With guests in and out of your home, now’s the time to put safe gun storage on your holiday to-do list. Learn how to store guns safely at SafeGunStorageTexas.com. |
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