The classroom door creaks open as the bell rings. Malorie Taylor hurries in, mind racing between grad school and teaching. Yet, no matter how hectic her life gets, she always makes time for her students, because to her, teaching isn’t just a job—it’s a calling.
Even when drenched in the demanding workload of college homework and balancing the pressures of chasing her dreams with academic responsibilities, Taylor always makes time for her students. One of the new special education teachers, she started her job in the classroom here last year as a job coach under the Aspire Program.
“My college degree is going to be a master’s in clinical mental health counseling and special education in autism,” Taylor said. “I do a lot of continuing education credit hours in autism and autism play therapy which is why I began working through the Aspire Program last year, and that just happened to lead me to this position now.”
Taylor’s deep passion for teaching stems from her unwavering commitment to advocate for her students, especially those who seem suppressed, overlooked and excluded, ensuring they obtain a voice.
“I’ve always been a person that wants to be of service to other people,” Taylor said. “I especially want to be of service to other people that don’t necessarily have a voice, or their voice is not always heard, my voice is loud enough for all of us.”
Because Taylor seamlessly fuses her college life with her responsibilities as a teacher, She finds herself with little time to devote to personal hobbies. In addition to teaching her busy group of kids, she also attends college, chasing her dream job.
“I’m in grad school to become a therapist, so my homework is my hobby right now,” Taylor said. “I also work a part-time job for the district, so that’s where all my time goes.”
Taylor’s abilities she developed through her experiences in her previous job now play a crucial role in boosting her strength as a teacher, allowing her to apply valuable skills in organization, communication, and problem-solving to create a supportive learning environment for her students.
“Before I took this job here, I did eight years as a purchasing manager for Four States Furniture and Ashley Furniture here in town,” Taylor said.
Even with the many stressful responsibilities that come with her role, Taylor makes a continuous effort to manage a positive atmosphere in her classroom, striving to create a space where her students can learn effectively, enjoy the process, and feel excited to come to school each day.
“My classroom environment is fun, busy, and engaging,” Taylor said. “We do a lot of stuff in here, I try to make it as fun as possible.”
Despite Taylor’s hectic and demanding schedule, she recognizes herself as incredibly blessed to get the opportunity to be here, dedicating her time to teaching and fostering meaningful relationships with her students.
“I’m here every single day, it almost feels like I’m just here to hang out with these kids,” Taylor said. “It’s so fun. It’s something new every single day, and it’s rewarding. I feel like I get to build connections with some really amazing students and people and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
