Bill Taylor, a history teacher at Riversprings Middle School, says he started teaching because of his love for history.  "I enjoy coming to work," says Taylor.  "Riversprings is a great school, and Mr. Walker is totally supportive and goes out of his way to make things happen in the classroom."


This is Taylor's sixth year as a teacher.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Florida State University with a double major in history and social science.  He was hired at Riversprings Middle School the first year it opened.  Taylor is a graduate of the Wakulla County School System, and says he wouldn't even consider teaching anywhere else.  Sandy Byers and Cookie Coyle were his intern supervisors, and, says Taylor, sold him on the benefits of teaching middle school.  Taylor's fellow team members during his first year of teaching were Angie Williams and Chrissy Sarvis.  He now team teaches with Savannah Boege and Marlene Adams.

"I teach on a 7th and 8th grade team," says Taylor.  "I teach 7th grade reading, math, American History and World History.  Mr. Walker also allows me to teach a pullout Honors 8th grade class each year in place of my planning period.  The course varies each year depending on the need.  Last year I taught Honors Algebra.  This year I am teaching Advanced World History."  Taylor's pullout class members have labeled themselves "The Nerd Herd", and Taylor says they are a blast to teach.   Taylor says he incorporates a lot of reading and writing into his curriculum, and tries to incorporate the FCAT skills whenever possible.

When asked what inspired him to become a teacher, Taylor responds that as a youngster he always enjoyed school.  "Claudia Zahuranek, my gifted teacher from Kingergarten through 12th grade, had a very profound impact on me.  She inspired me to want to become a teacher."

Says Taylor, "I love knowledge and learning; love to be here at Riversprings.  I like everything there is about teaching except for the need for discipline.  I found myself sweating the small stuff my first year.  I run a strict, tight class, but don't react about the small things anymore."  Adds Taylor, "As a teacher, you have to be an entertainer.  If you know what you're doing and talking about, and if you truly enjoy what you are doing, the kids will know.  I feel like being honest with the students is a key part of my connection with them."

Principal Dod Walker agrees with this statement.  "Mr. Taylor has a unique ability to relate to a wide variety of students.  He makes them all feel comfortable, no matter what type of personality they have.  As a result, he is very popular with the students."

Taylor is involved in several extracurricular activities at Riversprings, including sponsoring the Riversprings Academic Team.  He has been the sponsor every year since he began at Riversprings.  The Academic Team is similar to a brain brawl team, but the nature of the competition is becoming more academic, as opposed to being trivia based.  The Academic Team competes on a year-round basis, and usually practices 2 times a week for 2 1/2 hours at a time.  Any student is welcome to come learn.  The actual team members are chosen per competition, and only 6 of the participating students are chosen for each competition.  The roster rotates, however, so most of the participants have a chance to compete at some point.  According to Taylor, Riversprings is the only middle school to attend the State Academic Tournament in Orlando for 4 years running.

Taylor also sponsors a photography exploratory at Riversprings to give students an introducation to the wonders of photography.  In addition to his exploratory, he is also the creator and sponsor of the Riversprings Middle School Living History Photography Project.  Taylor and some of his students are putting together a chronological history of the school as told through photographs.  Taylor himself takes photos of events and just everyday life involving Riversprings, and encourages anyone else -- parents, students, other teachers -- to do the same.  The photos are collected and stored chronologically.  Taylor says he has collected at least 10,000 images so far, taken with both 35 milimeter and digital cameras.   At the end of each school year, a group of students narrows down all the photos that were taken that year to the top 20 or 30.  Those 20 or 30 photos are then voted on by about 85% of the students and faculty, and four of  them are chosen to be framed and hung in the hallways of Riversprings Middle School.  The School Improvement Committee gives $400 annually to use for enlarging and framing the winning photos.

Taylor's goal is to someday have the halls full of photos from each year of  Riversprings Middle School's existence.   "The kids love to see themselves in the photos, and I think it really personalizes the school for the students and the faculty and staff," says Taylor.  "Most of the photos are chosen because of the emotion or memory they invoke in the viewers.  Because of my love of history, I think it's important to preserve these memories for future generations to come.  The project has been very well received here at the school."

Taylor has also coached boys basketball and football in his tenure at Riversprings.

Taylor is also currently part of a three year study through a grant from the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium to analyze how American History is being taught in middle and high schools in Florida.  Participating students are given a pre-test at the beginning of the year to see what they already know, followed by a post-test at the end of the year to see how much they actually learned.  Taylor was chosen by his administrator to participate in the program.  "This project is important, because as historians, we want to make sure our curriculum continues to be valued in the overall educational arena," says Taylor.  Taylor says he and his fellow grant team members attend inservices led by college professors who teach their material to the team members.  The team then works together to come up with a plan for teaching the material to their own students.  Their goal is to develop the curriculum which can be used by other schools who are part of the Panhandle Area Educational Consortium.

Taylor received his National Board Certification this past year in history and social studies.  He also participates in the Jamestown Educators Seminar.

Taylor is a native of Wakulla County.  He and his wife Karen are expecting their first child this year.

When asked what his philosophy on teaching is, Taylor says, "I believe teaching is competition.  I compete with myself to be better every day.  I encourage my students to compete with themselves, peers, and other schools.  Failing to win because we haven't pushed ourselves hard enough should be a source of embarrassment."  

Taylor adds that building character in his students is a very important aspect of his job.  "You know you’ve been successful when you change a student’s behavior in a positive way not just when they are with you, but when they are away from you as well," says Taylor.

This article originally published on January 9, 2006.

 

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