Interventionist Amy Taylor is inspired to make a difference with the district’s younger students.

by Amy Haggerty

Becoming a teacher has always been Amy Taylor’s goal in life. Her love for teaching began in 1997 when she was hired as Angie Filice’s kindergarten aide at Howlett Elementary School in Gregory.

Taylor said “I was so inspired by Angie Filice and learned by watching. I admired her passion for children.”

It was Filice who encouraged Taylor to pursue a career in teaching. “I will never forget the inspiring conversations we would have about education and Angie’s belief that I would make a difference in the lives of children,” Taylor recalls. Considering that Filice is the reason she is a teacher today, Taylor wishes to thank Filice for her support.

Taylor attended Eastern Michigan University and later Marygrove College, where she earned a master’s degree in Reading Literacy. She began her teaching career in 2006. We are fortunate she decided to come back to her hometown, Stockbridge, to pursue her teaching career.

Taylor graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1991. She married her high school sweetheart, Jonathon Taylor, in 1995. They have two daughters who both attended Stockbridge Community Schools.  Breanna is 26 years old and married to Luke Showerman. They are the proud parents of Taylor’s first grandchild, one-and-a-half-year-old Layla Christine. The Taylors’ youngest daughter, Jessica, is 23.

Taylor has held several different teaching positions in the Stockbridge district, including kindergarten, second, and fourth grades. Most recently, she moved to the Title One Reading and Math Interventionist position where she works with students in kindergarten through second grades. In this new position she is focused on developing reading and math skills through small group and one-on-one instruction; she also occasionally provides extra classroom support when needed.

The best part of her job is “Seeing the growth of all the students; they are so motivated to learn.” A career lesson she has cultivated for herself involves “continuing to learn new strategies that will enable the best student success.” Taylor further explains, “As a teacher, I am constantly finding ways to meet all students’ needs both academically and emotionally.”

Taylor feels fortunate to be blessed with such great people to work with and, overall, the wonderful people in her life. Stockbridge Community Schools is also grateful this special teacher realized she had what it takes to become a teacher. Amy Taylor is making a notable impact on the young students in our community as she helps many of them strengthen reading and math skills they will rely on for the rest of their lives.

Amy Taylor’s love for teaching began in 1997 when she was hired as a kindergarten aide in the Stockbridge School District, and it continues today. Photo provided by Amy Taylor.