Art teacher Jean Barnett is Taylor High School’s Teacher of the Year. She loves watching her students grow and says that she learns from them as they learn from her. Being able to watch their artistic journey over their high school career is something she calls, “super special.”
Legacy’s Teacher of the Year is social studies teacher Trent Whitney. Whitney dedicated this award to his Aunt Shirley, who was his inspiration for becoming a teacher. He wants his students to be able to achieve their dreams and to have the skills, confidence and ability needed to achieve those dreams.
Lynn Bedard is the Teacher of the Year for the Taylor Opportunity Center. While in kindergarten, Bedard told her teacher that someday she wanted to teach high school math. She loves the population of students that she teaches, and she loves watching students adopt behaviors that will help them be successful in life.
Taylor Middle School’s Teacher of the Year is social studies teacher Cynthia Rios. From an early age, Rios wanted to work with children and to become a teacher. The thing she loves most about her job is her amazing students, our future leaders. They inspire her the most and she is always amazed with their unique abilities and personalities.
Briana Bohac began working for Taylor ISD as a VOE student worker in the THS office during her senior year. Her journey later included serving as a substitute teacher, an instructional aide and now she is Main Street Intermediate School’s Teacher of the Year. She describes her students as a bundle of excitement, courage, wonder and more.
Naomi Pasemann Elementary’s Teacher of the Year is art teacher Jennifer Lindquist. She believes she has the most fun job because students get to express themselves, get messy and be creative. Her goal is to inspire her students to be creative and courageous and to teach them that it’s ok to make mistakes.
Behavior teacher Laura Sanchez is T.H. Johnson Elementary School’s Teacher of the year. She believes a teacher should be inspirational, show empathy and have patience while ensuring all students feel valued and supported. Knowing that her job is to help kids achieve their full potential, and to be able to help prepare students to become future leaders, brings a smile to her face.
