Recognizing Dr. Jennifer Taylor

In April of 2023, Dr. Jennifer Taylor, a math and science teacher at Thomas Hart Academy, was awarded the South Carolina Independent School Association Middle School Teacher of the Year. While Dr. Taylor is humbled with receiving this honor, her colleagues and students recognize it as an accomplishment well deserved. Her path to becoming a teacher and receiving this acknowledgment may be untraditional, however, her love for teaching is evident throughout the halls at Thomas Hart Academy!

In high school, Dr. Taylor had the opportunity to attend the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) where she was offered a higher level of learning. “Many of the teachers at IMSA had an advanced level of content knowledge but could sometimes lack the ability to communicate well with students,” says Taylor. When deciding to become an educator, her goal was to meet both demands – knowledge and teaching skills. Taylor attended Washington University where she gained her Ph.D. but was also allowed to work with high school students which helped her learn how to better communicate with younger students.

“My goal as a teacher has been to give back to younger kids from all backgrounds. I want to bridge the gap of knowledge and preparation that I had experienced,” says Taylor. As a student, Taylor struggled with self-awareness of her learning process. As a teacher, she still considers this with her students. “I think about content, ways of learning, ways for the students to communicate what they have learned, and how to improve their learning.”

Dr. Taylor’s method of teaching combines the current curriculum with life experiences. “I have students do the same math problems in different ways to build their confidence. For instance, we use math to calculate taxes and tips when eating at a restaurant. I’ll bring in receipts from Walmart or McDonald's and we’ll work to calculate the tax percentage. These are everyday activities that involve math and help my students see the importance of learning math skills.” Taylor sees the benefits of students not only understanding that their way of doing a math problem works but also learning why it works.

Taylor also encourages students to pick topics they are interested in when it comes to projects. “I had a student that typically struggled academically. When deciding on a topic for the science fair, I encouraged her to choose something she was interested in. Then suddenly she was excited to do the work. Because it was a topic she was passionate about, she was able to explain it more clearly. She won a recognition ribbon from a Thomas Hart Academy teacher for how well she communicated the process and her parents were appreciative of her understanding of the scientific process.”

“Seeing my students filled with the joy of learning a new math or science fact is what I love most about teaching,” says Taylor. Her unique techniques in teaching also include discussing force and the direction of force with the volleyball team and teaching sixth graders a rap about bacteria. “Years later, my students were still able to sing the lyrics on prokaryotic cells and mitosis from memory!”

Over the years, Dr. Taylor has learned that she is always learning. “I have taught topics that I did not study in college or graduate school,” she says. She’s always researching how to build on lessons previously learned and what’s most valuable for students to know and understand. She is also studying ways to incorporate hands-on experiences, memorable videos or songs to remember key concepts, and staying focused on how students can achieve objectives for where they are academically. “Each year I assess the labs and activities I’ve introduced to reinforce the material.”

For those entering a career in education, Dr. Taylor says it's important to identify your strengths and use them to the best of your ability. “You don’t have to do what someone else does well to be a good teacher,” she explains. She also says to not assume a student knows the information. It’s important to her to connect current lessons with previous lessons and help the students understand that relationship. “We repeat content in different ways to help different kids see the lesson in a way that works for them,” she says. Each year, Dr. Taylor wants to have her teaching skills continue to grow and develop.

With all the many wonderful teachers throughout the state, Dr. Taylor was surprised to receive such a remarkable nomination. “I am excited that I get to come to a job that I love every day,” she says. “To be recognized for that is an honor. At Thomas Hart, we all work together for the benefit of the students. I love where I work and am appreciative of my colleagues for nominating me for the award.” As this new school year begins, Dr. Taylor looks forward to following her heart by keeping the students at the forefront of what she does every day!