Edward E. Taylor Elementary, located in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, is dedicated to helping all students develop the World-Class Skills outlined in the South Carolina Graduate Profile. Through the use of research-based best practices, the staff at E.E. Taylor worked tirelessly to meet students' academic needs while also addressing their social-emotional well-being, creating a nurturing and thriving learning environment.
As a Title I school, E.E. Taylor benefited from federal funding to support improvements in teaching and learning, ensuring that our students met the challenging academic standards set for them. Although enrollment continued to decline, with around 200 students from pre-K through 5th grade, we were able to offer learning options that included resource support and Advanced Academic Program classes to meet the needs of all learners.
Despite challenges like staff turnover, our focus on meeting students' academic needs remained unwavering. Professional development centered on the Comprehensive Literacy Framework, Visible Learning, and the use of student data to guide our teaching practices. Teachers worked collaboratively every week to refine and improve instructional plans.
Throughout the year, E.E. Taylor celebrated steady progress in student learning. Small, but significant, gains in diagnostic assessments and improvements in literacy and numeracy demonstrated that we were moving in the right direction. Each of these achievements, no matter how incremental, represented a vital step forward in our students' educational journeys.
The ongoing support from our community was a true reflection of the "village" mentality, with parents, guardians, grandparents, sororities, fraternities, state workers, and local church members all contributing their time, resources, and encouragement to help our students and staff thrive.
As the school year came to a close, stakeholders took a moment to reflect on the progress made. While there were challenges along the way, our commitment to transforming lives through education remained strong. We continue to strive to be a leader in empowering every student to reach their full potential and pursue their dreams.
Educationally Yours,
Mrs. Tiffany Brooks
School Improvement Council Chairperson
Nicole Kissinger