Lucas Crossing Teacher makes a difference

Lucas Crossing teacher uses education and medicine to make a difference in community

As a child, Colette Taylor-Moore saw a future in medicine, bringing new life into the world as an OB-GYN physician. She began her undergraduate studies in biology/pre-med at the University of Missouri at Columbia before transferring to DePaul University in Chicago.

Her biology professor at DePaul recommended that she apply for the Health

Careers Enhancement For Minorities (HCEM) internship at Case Western Reserve University, a top-ranked private research university in Cleveland, Ohio.

The program gave participants an opportunity to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and an opportunity to shadow medical doctors.

“But, life has a way of turningout the way it does,” said Taylor- Moore, a first-grade teacher at Lucas Crossing Elementary Complex. “I stayed at DePaul until I became pregnant with my first child.”

Taylor-Moore returned home and enrolled at Harris-Stowe State College (now Harris- Stowe State University). There, the St. Louis native eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in education from Lindenwood University. She had served more than 20 years as an elementary educator when she decided to return to school.

“I had an undying need to test the waters in medicine,” she said. “So, I figured I would try being an Emergency Medical Technician (E.M.T.) to see if medicine was something I was still interested in.”

She was teaching in the Ferguson-Florissant School District when she took a year off to focus on her E.M.T. studies at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park. It was during her first class that her professor made a dire prediction.

“He said, ‘Look around you. I guarantee you

that over two-thirds of the people you see in this class won’t make it through.’”

Taken aback by his comment, Taylor-Moore was determined to prove him wrong. She completed the program and is now approaching her third year working evenings (and some weekends) as a board-certified E.M.T. She says organization and time management are key to balancing both careers. Whether it’s inside the classroom or an ambulance, Taylor-Moore says she’s prepared to meet any challenge head-on.

Any mention of a student not feeling well or a fall on the playground, she immediately checks for high temperatures and broken arms. Other times, she takes a motherly nurturing

approach with students. This school year, she says that two students each lost a loved one.

“Sometimes they need an extra hug,” said Taylor-Moore, a mother of two. “You have no idea what the situation is until you get into the trenches.”

Ambulance calls Taylor-Moore responds to range from routine transfers to extreme cases like one she said she’ll never forget – the suicide call of a 16-year-old boy. His parents reported that they had no previous knowledge of him being distraught and to find him in that state was indescribable.

“At the time, my own son was 16,” she said. “You never know what children are going through. My heart was torn as a teacher and a parent.”

Despite the emotional tolls and physical demands of her two careers, Taylor-Moore says it’s rewarding making a difference in the lives of so many.

“I’m truly blessed to have both careers,” she said. “Wherever I’m needed to help, that’s what I want to do.”