Taylor ISD GETS an A from superintendent Garcia-Edwardsen presents 'State of District' report
Students feeling safer on campus, more career and technology programs, higher college and military readiness and increased community collaboration are among the latest achievements for the Taylor Independent School District.
Those are just some of the highlights presented Monday, Jan. 27, to trustees by Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen during her first State of the District report.
In August, she set goals and priorities for a comprehensive strategic plan.
“One year ago, almost to the date, … my family and I packed up everything in our house and made the best decision that I’ve ever made in my life and my career,” Garcia-Edwardsen told the school board. “And that was to move to Taylor, Texas, to be part of this exceptional community.”
Noteworthy attainments cited by the superintendent include:
• Two school district surveys show over 80% of elementary and almost 70% of secondary students feel safe on campus and that almost 80% of the student body feel they belong at Taylor ISD. In addition, armed guards are at every campus and Taylor ISD entered a partnership with Communities in School, a nonprofit organization that supports at-risk students.
• From 2022 to 2023, the school district has seen a double-digit increase in students’ college, career and military readiness — from 59% to 79%
• The district awarded $1.2 million for 113 Taylor High School seniors and almost $200,000 for over 25 Legacy Early College High School recipients.
• With the help of the Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corp., Taylor ISD has teamed up with 45 organizations to allow students to explore fields such as animal science, graphic design, business, semiconductor technology and more.
• The school district also partnered with Samsung Austin Semiconductor to provide 24 students with internships.
“We offer world-class CTE opportunities in high school to prepare students for life by developing skills and connecting learning to the real world. These programs boost engagement, they equip our students for the workforce, and they help them make decisions about their own futures,” Garcia-Edwardsen said.
• Taylor ISD had a 71% retention rate for the 202324 school year, and 35% of its educators have 10 or more years of experience.
• In addition, this year, Taylor ISD has seen a 1% increase in student attendance, which equates to 2,500 students.
According to the Texas Education Agency, average daily attendance significantly impacts school district funding. Taylor ISD’s increase in student attendance resulted in about $217,000 in revenue.
“More importantly, (it means) more students in their seats in the classroom to take advantage of all the great opportunities that we have here in Taylor ISD,” Garcia-Edwardsen said.
Next year, the school district will prioritize math and aim to increase the number of students who meet and master their grade level in all subject areas.
To achieve strong partnerships, the school district has many ways for community members to be involved — through the ambassador program with Communication and Community Liaison Tim Crow, volunteering as a mentor with Family Support Services, working as a substitute or donating to the Taylor Educational Enrichment Foundation to provide grants to staff and students alike.
In the past year, the TEE Foundation awarded 15 grants totaling over $30,000.
“I can’t say enough about our community partners. … We have so many incredible partners, and our partnerships strengthen the opportunities that we can provide for our kids,” Garcia-Edwardsen said.
For efficient financial stewardship, Taylor ISD received another superior rating from the School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas, as it has done for the prior two years.
In addition, the school district has had a 30% decrease in its tax rate for the past 10 years.
The superintendent also highlighted the $80 million bond the school district passed in 2022, which has aided campus improvements and allowed Taylor ISD to purchase land for future growth.
Looking ahead, Garcia-Edwardsen presented three focus areas for “continuing our legacy”: Increasing academic achievement by providing a “world-class environment,” building Taylor ISD as the place to be for staff and creating systems to align all campuses on goals and provide clear communication.
Furthermore, the school district has also prepared for the long-term — completing an updated facility assessment, conducting a demographic study for the next 10 years and creating long-range and expenditure projections.
The school district will also launch its first community advisor committee next month to promote feedback from 100 community members to aid this long-range plan.
And to celebrate the Century of the Ducks — the school district mascot — this year, Garcia-Edwardsen collaborated with the Chamber to create a video showcasing the district’s achievements, narrated by Taylor students and produced by local filmmaker Jeremy Rodgers. Rodgers is Emmy-nominated and has previously worked for National Geographic and Netflix.
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“I can’t say enough about our community partners.”
— Taylor ISD Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen
