Special education teacher Michelle Taylor works with students in Bulldog Block, a supported study hall; she also co-teaches Accelerated Algebra and Adventure and Survival.

As a high school student in Binghamton, New York, Taylor found she was “drawn to helping other students.” Her love of helping others achieve success caused her to consider becoming either a physical education or a special education teacher. She enjoyed being part of choir, debate club and student council. Outside of school, she enjoyed babysitting. 

She also had a close friend who was in special education. Helping her friend in academic areas inspired her to pursue a degree in education. “My original thought was either to be a P.E. teacher or a special ed teacher,” Taylor said.

The positive impact Taylor’s choir teacher had on her also influenced her decision to become a teacher. She made a difference in Taylor’s life by “seeing her” and boosting her self-esteem.

After high school, Taylor joined the Army for six years where she met her husband. After they married and left the military, they moved to upstate New York where she attended State University of New York at Geneseo. She earned an undergraduate degree in Special Education and became a high school teacher; while she taught, she also attended St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York, where she earned a master’s degree in Special Education.

Eventually Taylor and her husband moved to Charleston, South Carolina, and have recently moved to Grafton with their dog, Quimby, and cat, Izzy. Quimby is named after a children’s book character because Taylor says she has always wanted to name a dog after Ramona Quimby.

 In her free time, Taylor and her husband enjoy exploring the outdoors and going on hikes. A memorable trip for the two was hiking in the Grand Canyon. “It’s totally different,” Taylor said. “It’s a hard hike but we like hard hikes.”