Daily Herald: Teacher of the Week ~ Denise Taylor

Denise Taylor teaches first grade at Spring Lake Elementary in Payson. She was selected as the Daily Herald’s Utah Valley Educator of the Week for her dedication to teaching.

Taylor was the music teacher at Spring Lake Elementary for several years before pursuing her degree in Elementary Education from Utah Valley University. She then went on to complete her ESL Endorsement and Masters in Education from SUU. She taught fourth grade at Santaquin Elementary prior to teaching first grade at Spring Lake.

Taylor has served on multiple committees including Character Education, PTA, and School Community Council. She spends endless hours of her off time planning and preparing for the needs of her class and her school. For the last several years, she has spent time before school and during the summer providing a school reading program to ensure that kids keep reading all through the summer and have access to online reading programs.

Taylor does an amazing job incorporating technology, music and fun into every single school day. She has a dedicated drive to always be making improvements in her teaching and finding better ways to do things. She is someone who jumps in and helps out in a pinch and is admired and respected by all who know her.

In the local community, Taylor is very involved in her church where she serves with the youth. She also volunteers as a temple worker at the LDS Payson Utah Temple. Her most treasured time is spent with her husband, children and grandchildren making forever memories.