Dear Taylor ISD families,

As we head into the final week of April and the last week of STAAR testing, we are also moving closer to the finish line of the school year. Together, we can finish strong and look forward to the many celebrations that come with this time of year.

Across our district, I’ve seen students showing focus, perseverance, and confidence as they demonstrate all they have learned this year. Your support at home plays an important role in helping them stay calm, prepared, and ready to do their best.

Entering this final stretch, I also want to encourage families to continue supporting strong routines, including good attendance, restful sleep, and healthy mornings to help students stay ready and energized.

Once testing is complete, campuses will continue meaningful instruction, enrichment activities, and learning experiences as we move toward the end of the school year. We also look forward to upcoming celebrations such as academic awards, campus events, and graduation ceremonies.

Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to our teachers and staff who are working diligently to support students during this testing season and throughout the year. Their commitment makes a lasting difference.

Thank you for walking alongside us this school year. We are almost there, and we are looking forward to celebrating our students in the weeks ahead! 

~Jen

Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, Ph.D.

Taylor ISD Superintendent

Taylor Middle School 8th grader Lilly Farris just did something incredible!

Lilly placed in the Top 20 in the state at the Texas State Science Fair at Texas A&M in the Engineering Technology, Statics & Dynamics category with her project "Comparing Weight Capacity Across Bridge Designs."

Lilly competed against some of the brightest young minds in Texas and landed in the top 4% of the original 25,000 participants. This is a historic moment for both TMS and Taylor ISD, setting a new standard for STEM excellence!

Throughout the weekend, Lilly got to engage with college students doing real research, connect with leaders in science and engineering, and even meet astronaut Dr. Gregory Chamitoff. 

Surrounded by innovators and dreamers, she represented Taylor with pride and excellence.

Lilly's achievement is more than an individual success. It shows the growing strength of STEM in Taylor ISD and inspires the next generation to dream big and aim high.

We are incredibly proud of you, Lilly, for leading the way and making history! 🌟

Taylor High School powerlifters brought home some serious hardware at the 2026 THSPA State Meet, proving they're among the best in Texas!

Anthony Alderete dominated the equipped 165-pound division, crushing personal records with a 520 lb squat, 390 lb bench press, and 545 lb deadlift for an incredible 1,460 total and a 5th place state finish.

Antonio Estrada delivered big in the un-equipped 123-pound division, hitting personal bests with a 310 lb squat, 200 lb bench press, and 335 lb deadlift for an 845 total, also earning 5th in the state.

Ariana Concha powered her way to 3rd in the state with an incredible performance!

Eliana Aleman finished 11th overall, showing strength, grit, and determination every step of the way.

All four of our Ducks represented Taylor ISD with power, discipline, and heart at the highest level. Way to make Duck Nation proud! 🦆

We're shining a spotlight on the incredible creativity and innovation happening in our elementary Gifted & Talented programs across Taylor ISD!

T.H. Johnson Elementary: GT recently kicked off in Kindergarten, and these young minds are already thinking big! They designed Peep parachutes, testing and tweaking to see who could make the slowest fall. Up next: photography, Snap Circuits, job research projects, and more hands-on fun!

Naomi Pasemann Elementary: What a year it's been! Students have grown crystals, engineered foil boats, built towering structures, designed mazes, created their own Play Piper computers, and even toured Blue Bell Creamery. These kids are shining bright with big futures ahead!

Main Street Elementary: GT students have been mastering teamwork and problem-solving through awesome projects like Rube Goldberg machines, mini catapults, ecosystem exploration, slime creation, and Piper computers (a student favorite!). They're bringing their ideas to life, and there's still more to come!

We are so proud of our GT students and teachers who inspire curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning every day. The future is bright in Taylor ISD!

Our TMS Outdoor Rec students are learning some seriously cool skills right now, and it all starts with fire!

They kicked off their tin can cooking unit by going back to basics: gathering sticks, building their own fires from scratch, and learning how to safely tend them. Their first creation? Perfectly toasted bread! 🍞

Over the last few weeks, they've been leveling up with bacon, eggs, and other tasty challenges. The grand finale? A "Cook's Choice" competition where each group gets to design and cook their own dish. The only rules: it has to fit on a tin can and be fully cooked within one class period!

This unit is always a student favorite, and we can't wait to see what creative recipes they come up with.

Our Health Science seniors just made school history in the best way possible.

31 students passed their Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam, making this the largest group EVER to earn this certification at Taylor High School! How incredible is that? 🏆

But here's what makes this even more exciting: these students can start working right now in hospitals, clinics, or any medical offices. They're ready to step into real healthcare roles while continuing their education.

For those planning to become nurses, doctors, or EMTs, this certification is a huge head start on their dreams. They're not just preparing for the future; they're already living it!

We are beyond proud of these hardworking students and everything they've achieved. Congratulations to our future healthcare heroes! 

THS recently hosted a Bridging the Gap event, and it was all about building stronger connections between our students and the real world!

We brought together local business leaders, workforce partners, and our educators to talk about one big goal: setting our students up for success beyond the classroom.

Through our partnership with the Taylor Chamber of Commerce and Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, we're creating more opportunities for work-based learning and giving students hands-on exposure to actual careers. Attendees heard directly from students and industry partners, got the inside scoop on our CTE programs, and brainstormed ways to stay involved with our schools.

Events like this are so important because they help our students do more than just learn. They're preparing for what comes next, with real skills and real connections.

A huge thank you to our community partners for investing in our students' futures and helping us build pathways that truly make a difference! 

Families, this is a great time to send a Talk of Taylor shoutout to your student’s teacher! Share a moment your child came home excited, a memorable classroom experience, or simply what makes a teacher or staff member stand out. You can even ask your student to complete a shoutout for a teacher or staff member!

Once you submit your note, we’ll make sure it gets delivered directly to them. Let’s fill our schools with gratitude and positive messages all week long!