While Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen was waiting for the call, which would tell her if she was going to be Taylor Independent School District’s next superintendent late Tuesday Oct. 24, she and her husband pushed their kids on the swing set in the backyard to pass the time.
Later that night, she received word from the board of trustees that she was going to be named the lone finalist for the superintendent position.
“I think the first thing I said was ‘Oh my goodness, I am so grateful and so honored,’” Garcia-Edwardsen said. “I got an opportunity to speak to each of the board members and they expressed how excited they were to have me on. I expressed the same, and just the great work we’re going to continue to do.”
She said her husband was also excited to hear the news. Additionally, her two kids, a two-year-old and a fouryear- old, were sold on Taylor as a town because of its parks.
“Our kids are excited,” Garcia-Edwardsen said. “They’re a little bit younger, so we’re having to explain things a little bit slower.”
Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen thanks those in attendance after she was officially hired as Taylor Independent School District superintendent. Photo by Hunter Dworaczyk
The mandatory 21-day waiting period is finished and Taylor ISD’s hire is official.
Trustees unanimously approved to hire Garcia-Edwardsen as the district’s next leader Monday, Nov. 13 at the special board meeting.
“Thank you all so much,” Garcia-Edwardsen said at the meeting. “I got here Friday, and since Friday we have been inundated with a warm welcome. So much kindness and love from this community. We are off to do great things.”
She is leaving New Braunfels Independent School District, where she served as chief of schools.
Prior to her previous role, she served as a deputy academic officer at Hays Consolidated Independent School District, where she directed curriculum, instructional objectives and campus alignment, a press release said.
She has also served as principal and an assistant principal for Del Valle ISD. When she was named the lone finalist for Taylor ISD superintendent, Garcia-Edwardsen told the Taylor Press that she plans to begin her role by listening and learning the district’s structure.
“What I can say is the priority is going to be the academics and supporting our campus principals and district staff,” Garcia-Edwardsen said. “My immediate role right now, right next to understanding our framework and understanding who does what, will be to make sure that we have strong supports in for our campuses.”
Garcia-Edwardsen received the Austin Under 40 Award for Youth and Education in 2020 and has several distinctions in the H-E-B Excellence in Education category, a press release said.
Garcia-Edwardsen received a doctorate in school improvement from Texas State University.
