In The Loop With Taylor ISD
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Dear Team Taylor,
As we head into Spring Break, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for the care, dedication, and energy you bring to our students every day. The work you do is meaningful and impactful, and it does not go unnoticed.
Spring Break is an important opportunity to pause, recharge, and take care of yourselves. Whether that means spending time with family, getting some rest, enjoying a hobby, or simply taking a break from the busy pace of the school year, I hope you’re able to use this time to focus on your own well-being. I’m looking forward to doing the same with my own family.
When we return, we’ll begin the final stretch of the school year, including STAAR testing and many end-of-year milestones and celebrations. Thank you for the dedication you bring to your work and all you do to support our students and one another.
Wishing you a safe, restful, and well-deserved Spring Break.
Quack, quack - take some time to relax!
Jen
Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, Ph.D.
Taylor ISD Superintendent
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Taylor ISD is excited to welcome new students, including out-of-district transfers! Enrollment for the upcoming school year is officially open. Please note, enrollment for Pre-K and Kindergarten open on April 1.
New families are invited to our Pre-K & Kindergarten Enrollment Kickoff on April 7 from 4-6 p.m. at T.H. Johnson Elementary. Stop by to explore the campus, meet teachers and staff, and get help enrolling your student. Our team will be on hand to answer questions and guide you through the process.
Bring the family, enjoy a fun evening on campus, and take the first step toward your child’s amazing school journey! Know someone looking for a great school for their child? Share this event with friends and neighbors so they can join our Duck family too! Enroll your new student at the link below.
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Just last week, the TMS Symphonic Band, led by Miss Emily Gazeley, earned Superior ratings in both Concert and Sight-Reading, earning a Sweepstakes distinction! This is the highest possible honor, marking only the second time in Taylor ISD history that the band has achieved this award, following their first in 2025.
The TMS Wind Ensemble, directed by Mrs. Brianna Perry, also impressed at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Evaluation, earning an Excellent rating in Concert and a Superior rating in Sight-Reading.
On the theater stage, the TMS One Act Play cast performed “Peter/Wendy” by Jeremy Bloom at the UIL Middle School District One Act Play competition in Dripping Springs. The students earned 4th place overall and brought home four acting awards:
🌟 All-Star Cast: Lilly Farris, Allison Killian
🌟 Honorable Mention: Avah Sheffy, Nicole Alamia
We are incredibly proud of these talented students and their directors, and we celebrate their hard work, dedication, and outstanding accomplishments representing Taylor Middle School and Taylor ISD!
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Congratulations to the THS Color Guard on an outstanding competition season! The Varsity Silks have once again qualified for the Texas Educational Color Guard Association (TECA) State Meet after a strong performance at the recent TECA Circuit Competition. They will compete next at Palmview High School on March 21.
We also celebrate the success of the THS JV Color Guard, which placed third out of 10 teams in its division!
We are proud of the dedication and talent of these students and their director, Ms. Svatek, and wish the Varsity Silks the best of luck as they prepare for the state competition.
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We are thrilled to share that two of our outstanding principals have been accepted into the prestigious The Holdsworth Center's Campus Leadership Program!
Please join us in congratulating Erika Cantwell, principal of Legacy Early College High School and Kerri Pierce, principal of Main Street Elementary! They are two of only 35 school leaders statewide selected for this highly competitive opportunity!
The Campus Leadership Program is a two-year learning experience designed to help principals and their administrative teams grow as stronger leaders and drive meaningful, positive change for students. Throughout the program, they will:
- Partner with executive coaches to strengthen leadership skills
- Participate in real-world field visits to practice new strategies
- Learn continuous improvement methods to sustain growth long after the program ends
We are incredibly proud of Ms. Cantwell and Ms. Pierce for getting into the program, and excited to see the impact their leadership growth will continue to have on our students, staff, and community.
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Students from Naomi Pasemann Elementary and Main Street Elementary proudly represented their campuses after being nominated to compete. Each student showed incredible focus and creativity as they mixed, baked, and plated their dishes for the judges. With so many impressive recipes, choosing a winner was no easy task.
Congratulations to Caylen Hall, a 5th grader from MSE, who earned first place with her delicious German Apple Bread. Caylen’s winning recipe will be served at both campuses in April and will advance to the national competition!
We are so proud of every student who participated and shared their culinary talents. This event continues to grow each year and gives our high school culinary arts students the chance to serve as mentors, guiding and encouraging the competitors along the way.
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Coach Kelsey Faykus was recently selected for the THSCA 2026 R.O.C.K. Mentoring Program! Coach Faykus was nominated by a colleague in recognition of exceptional leadership, dedication, and commitment to supporting student-athletes.
The R.O.C.K. program, Rare, Outstanding, Compelled, and Knowledgeable, is an initiative that recognizes coaches who exemplify excellence in their field. The program is a partnership between the Texas High School Coaches Education Foundation and the Texas A&M Thornton-McFerrin Coaching Academy, providing mentorship and professional development opportunities for middle and high school teacher-coaches.
We are so excited to celebrate Coach Faykus and the positive impact she continues to make on our students and the Taylor ISD community.
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Our 4th and 5th grade students from Naomi Pasemann Elementary and Main Street Elementary put their spelling skills to the test Friday morning at the Taylor ISD Elementary Spelling Bee!
Leading up to this event, each 4th and 5th grade Reading/ELA class held its own spelling bee, and the top speller from each class advanced to compete at the district level. We had 17 talented competitors take the stage, representing their classrooms and campuses with confidence!
Congratulations to our winners!
- 1st Place: Jensen Hernandez (NPE)
- 2nd Place (tie): Amaris Diaz (NPE) & Avril (MSE)
Great job to all of our amazing spellers for the hard work and dedication it took to make it this far. We are proud of you!
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A huge thank you to all our teachers and staff who participated in DuckCon 2026 and helped make our one-day professional development conference such a success!
Special appreciation goes to the staff members who volunteered to lead sessions, sharing their expertise and strategies with colleagues across the district. Your dedication and willingness to teach your peers created a day full of collaboration, connection, and meaningful learning.
We also enjoyed an inspiring keynote from Anne Grady, who shared practical tips on resiliency and stress management, plus door prizes, a snack bar, and an Apple Genius Bar pop-up where staff explored classroom technology.
Thank you again for your time, energy, and commitment to learning from one another. DuckCon 2026 truly showcased the talent, creativity, and dedication of our Taylor ISD staff, and we couldn’t do it without you!
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Last week was Senior Night for THS soccer, celebrating the senior members of both the boys and girls teams. The evening began with a strong performance on the field as the Ducks defeated Caldwell. Following the game, seniors from both teams were recognized during a special ceremony before the Lady Ducks took the field and also secured a win over Caldwell.
During the ceremony, teammates took a moment to honor the memory of their classmate and teammate, Brandon Garcia, who would have graduated with the Class of 2026. Players walked alongside Brandon’s mother and family while carrying a flag with his photo, creating a moving tribute to his memory.
Friends and family also hosted a fundraiser in the parking lot, selling pulled pork sandwiches and sausage wraps. Proceeds from the event will support the Brandon Lee Garcia Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to a graduating senior this May.
The evening was a meaningful celebration of the seniors’ accomplishments, the strength of the THS soccer community, and the lasting impact Brandon continues to have on his teammates and friends.
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Our THS Academic Decathlon team represented Taylor ISD with excellence at the State competition this past weekend! We are so proud of the students’ hard work, dedication, and outstanding performance on the big stage. 👏📚
The team brought home an impressive 16 medals and a $1,000 scholarship, demonstrating their skill across multiple subjects. Here are our State medalists:
- Arya Roy – Scholastic Gold in Social Science, Literature, Essay, Interview, and Speech; Scholastic Silver Overall & $1,000 Scholarship; Perfect Scores in Interview & Speech
- Josh Meller – Varsity Gold in Science; Varsity Bronze in Social Science
- Laurena Torres – Varsity Gold in Interview & Speech; Perfect Scores in both
- Rylee Michna – Honors Gold in Interview; Honors Silver in Speech; Perfect Score in Interview
- Edward Robles – Scholastic Bronze in Interview; Scholastic Gold in Speech; Perfect Score in Speech
- Sherry Zheng – Honors Bronze in Art
- Billy Harrison – Varsity Bronze in Literature
Their success is a testament to their dedication, teamwork, and love of learning! Congratulations!
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Taylor ISD is excited to announce that we are currently hiring for three new district positions:
- Fine Arts Director
- Executive Director of Special Education
- Associate Principal at Taylor Middle School
These new roles are designed to strengthen alignment across our district, support our staff, and enhance student achievement. By providing focused leadership in key areas, we can ensure every student has access to high-quality programs, support, and opportunities to thrive.
If you know someone who would be a great fit for our team, please share these opportunities!
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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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