TAYLOR ISD
Main Street Elementary School third-grade teacher Lindsey Cram is closing out her time in the Taylor Independent School District’s apprentice program with recognition from the superintendent.
Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen awarded Cram with the Coin of Excellence at the Oct. 21 school board meeting, almost two months before Cram is set to graduate with her bachelor’s degree on Dec. 14.
Cram is part of a program that allows college students or other qualified individuals to work as teachers while completing their degree or certification requirements.
“Her work ethic and dedication to all students at MSE is only part of what has made her so successful,” Main Street Principal Kerri Pierce said at the meeting. “The thing that you need to know about this teacher is that she is a natural in the classroom and creates an environment where all of her students are not only challenged academically, but socially and emotionally as well.”
As part of the school district’s priority to provide an “exceptional workplace climate,” Garcia-Edwardsen created the Coin of Excellence to recognize staff members who embody Taylor ISD’s mis- sion to inspire, equip and empower students to reach their unique potential.
“When I asked one of her students what made her such a special teacher, he responded, ‘She’s really nice, and she gives us second chances when we ask for help. She’s never rude, and she’s just a really loving teacher,’” Pierce said. “Her effect is not only seen in just our students (but) with our staff as well.”
Cram began her journey with the school district when she first moved to Taylor in 2020 and worked as a substitute teacher.
In October 2021, she was hired as an instructional aide at Naomi Pasemann Elementary School. The next year, she decided to go back to school and complete the degree she began working toward in her late teens and 20s, having taken a break to raise her four kids.
“It feels really good and emotional,” Cram said. “It’s been 20-plus years of me trying to finish my bachelor’s degree. … Getting back into school after having four children who, you know, you’ve put a lot of yourself into was hard.”
Another year later, Taylor ISD introduced its teacher apprenticeship program, and Cram joined four others in signing up and began teaching her first elementary class.
Cram wasn’t expecting to handle the classroom alone, thinking she would shadow another educator, but her years of experience working with students helped as she learned the ropes.
“It’s been busy, overwhelming but also very rewarding as well,” Cram said. “I love teaching in a place where I can see these kids outside of school. … Just being in the community that I live in and teaching here is very rewarding for me.”
During her journey, Cram’s family has been by her side — from the day she signed up to be a teacher apprentice to surprising her at the school-board session as she received the tribute.
“(My husband) kind of mentioned it, so (my parents) were kind of in the wings, ready to kind of surprise me,” Cram said. “When I signed on with the apprenticeship program, I had my family there as well, along with my parents, so it felt kind of right that they were there as well for that.”
