Dear friends,
After careful consideration and prayer, I’ve decided to run again for a seat on the Fremont County School District #1 School Board. As a parent with three boys in our school system, I have a vested interest in seeing our schools maximize the potential of each student. A school board needs members who will be responsive and effective voices for families and the community with a commitment to transparency, student success, and thoughtful long-term planning to best serve the students, I feel I have done these things during my time on the board. I am proud of the direction our district is headed. I want to continue to support a culture that enriches students and recognizes the commitment and accomplishments of our district staff.

During the last three and a half years I have initiated or supported efforts to:

• Lift mask mandates for our staff and students by addressing the quarantine policy in the COVID-19 Smart Start Plan, followed by ending quarantine and tracking measures that unnecessarily kept students out of school.
• Keep district finances as close to our students, while still supporting an increase in teacher salaries despite dropping enrollment and funding. Additionally, I advocated for the use of ESSR funds to be used for teacher bonuses and salaries to show our appreciation to staff during such uncertain times.
• Implement policies and practices that keep indoctrination and political bias out of the classroom and worked to ensure transparency of curriculum and materials.
• Passed a resolution denouncing the National School Board Association’s 2021 letter to the Biden Administration characterizing parents voicing concerns at school board meetings as “domestic terrorists”.
• Worked to remove a pornographic and sexually explicit book from our library and supported a policy revision that allows parents and community members to report and request the removal of materials that are not in line with the district’s mission and our community’s values.
• Encouraged collaboration efforts with the district, community members, mental health providers, the City of Lander, and other stakeholders attempting to reduce drug and alcohol use in our students. Additionally, passing a policy requiring random drug testing for our student athletes and students enrolled in extracurricular activities in attempt to deter drug and alcohol use and provide students access to mental health supports.
• Passed the conceal-carry policy which is a robust policy intended to provide another layer of protection for our students by allowing staff to carry on school property, upon completion of extensive psychological testing and marksman training and after board approval.
• Continually encourage the board and district administrators to look at additional ways to support district staff financially such as; district childcare, district housing, possible changes to insurance providers/carriers.

Most importantly I have spent countless hours attending school activities supporting the students and families of Fremont #1 including: parent involvement nights, guest speakers, football games, volleyball matches, homecoming parades, wrestling duals, track and field events, theater productions, music programs, awards assemblies, art nights, and much more. All of these events have provided me with the ability to see the wonderful things our students of Fremont #1 are doing!!! Our students are incredible and have access to so many opportunities because of the amazing supports provided by teachers and staff. It has allowed me to further understand the importance of parental engagement and community collaboration to provide our students with the necessary skills and tools needed for success!

As you may know, I am a school psychologist and have been employed by/or contracted with 7 school districts and 2 early intervention regions in Wyoming, as well as provided consultative services for the Wyoming Department of Education for the last 12 years. I have a strong commitment to encourage education to focus on the necessary skills needed for students to succeed after graduation not just academic performance. This includes being an effective communicator, showing resiliency and a solid work ethic, to be able to engage in civil discourse and take direction from authority, and other skills needed to contribute to society.

I also currently serve as a board member on the Wyoming State Board of Education, appointed by Governor Gordon in March of 2023, to represent local school boards. This role and those in my career have helped me to be an effective board member understanding the culture and nuisances of the education system, the pressures and stresses facing our teachers and students, and the ultimate desire of all involved to see our students succeed.

But possibly one of my best qualifications as a candidate for school board, is my heart for service. I find serving and helping others is a way to bring joy to others and oneself and is a duty we are all called to do. I serve as a volunteer coach for the Lander USA Tiger Tough Wrestling Club and “team mom” for the Lander Youth Football. I previously volunteered as a coach for the Lander Baseball Association and Lander Rec soccer. I serve at my local church as well as volunteering during other community events. The ability to continue to serve the students and families of my community as a Fremont #1 Trustee would be a great honor and I hope you consider allowing me to serve!

– Taylor