“It takes many years to become a decent teacher,” and after 23 years, Cuyahoga Heights Elementary School (CHES) fifth-grade teacher Corey Taylor, says, “I’m starting to get better.” Through his tenure, which includes two years teaching fourth graders, 12 years teaching second and third graders, and the last nine years teaching fifth graders, Taylor has consistently demonstrated his unwavering dedication to the students and staff, embodying the highest standards of excellence in education. These qualities cast him into the Staff Spotlight for October 2024. He was honored at the October 24 board meeting.
“His patience and calming demeanor create a nurturing and positive learning environment for his fifth-grade students, making him a trusted and respected figure in the classroom,” said Paula Schaefer, daytime cleaner, who nominated him for the honor. “He is a beacon of positivity, always offering a helping hand to both students and colleagues, contributing to a strong sense of community within the school.”
Prior to joining CHES, Taylor taught for two years in Chicago, Ill. and four years in Atlanta, Ga., where he volunteered at a women's homeless shelter. “The amount of love these children had for their mothers and for the volunteers who worked with them, helped to show me the impact a teacher could have on a child,” remarked Taylor about how this pivotal moment in his life influences his commitment to teaching today.
A consummate “team player,” Taylor says what he likes most about his current position are the people he works with, including fellow Fifth-Grade Teachers Mark Williams and Ashleigh Bonina; Intervention Specialist Kirsten Dillman; and Teaching Assistant Amy George. “It is a pleasure to be able to share ideas and collaborate on methods to reach students' needs,” Taylor says. An advocate for a well-run classroom that encourages learning, he reminds his students that the behavior he most detests is talking which he is teaching. “Each year I tell every class that this is the one thing that will drive me nutty!” Expectations established, the classroom allows Taylor to share his personal motto: Never give up! “It fits right in line with the trait of perseverance, which I try to instill in my students,” he says. “Our students are eager to learn, if given an opportunity, in an environment where they feel comfortable.”
Taylor’s commitment extends beyond the classroom, where he dedicates long hours to ensuring that his students receive the best possible education and support. He is currently advisor to the CHES Student Council where he helps young students develop leadership responsibilities. He is also basketball coach to the third/fourth-grade boys’ traveling basketball team and is an assistant coach for the middle school boys’ basketball team. “The level of coaching at CHS is incredible!,” says Taylor. “The amount of time, caring, professionalism, and knowledge exhibited by coaches is unbelievable.”
His competitive spirit is also evident in his love of the game hacky sack, in which players kick a small round bag called a footbag, into the air to try to keep it off the ground for as long as possible. “We were both avid players on our college campus,” says Taylor about how he met his wife, Dr. Kristen Lucas, now Curator of Conservation and Science at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and one of the leading experts on gorilla behavior in the world. “I would always try to find the circle that my future wife was involved with, so that I could play next to her.” The Taylors, who reside in Euclid near Lake Erie, have three sons, all graduates of Cuyahoga Heights High School. Henley is a recent graduate of Columbia University, Holden is currently a junior at Yale University, and Hyatt is a sophomore at Columbia University. The family's pets include three turtles, one snake, fish, and two dogs.
Taylor – who over the years has held to the much-anticipated end-of-school-year tradition of letting his students shave his head – admits that the one thing he can’t live without is coffee. “It would be a rough day without coffee,” he concluded.