Amanda Taylor

I was inspired to become a teacher because of my son. He was born healthy, but had several ear infections as an infant, which caused some hearing problems. At one year old, he wasn't meeting milestones, the doctor noticed he wasn't responding to loud noises and he still wasn't talking, so we took him to ENT specialists in Jacksonville. The ENT told me that he had a hearing loss, and would not start school on time and there was nothing they could do. I didn't like that answer, I worked with my son, teaching him letters, numbers, sounds, and how to write. I put him in pre k 4 to help him learn to socialize with other kids. By the time he entered Kinder, he was reading and writing and advanced further than other kindergarteners. I refused to accept that doctors 5 minute view of my son. In seeing what he accomplished with my help, I knew that there were other kids probably being told that same thing, and I knew I could help make a difference. I went back to school and completed my bachelors degree in Exceptional Student Education, to help other struggling students. I have been teaching for 10 years, working with students with disabilities and now also teaching gifted students. I currently work in a Title 1 school ( a school with a high free/reduced lunch population) and with a high ESOL (English for Speakers if Other Languages) population (35%). I was inspired to become a teacher because of my son. He was born healthy, but had several ear infections as an infant, which caused some hearing problems. At one... read more