Teresa Taylor, MEd, is an intervention specialist with the Targeted Reading Instruction (TRI) team at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG). Previously she worked as a preschool teacher, special education interventionist, elementary school teacher, and instructional facilitator in Orange and Durham Public Schools. Her areas of interest include literacy coaching, Tier 2 reading instruction, assessment practices, and professional development training.

As part of our FPG profile series, we recently spoke with Taylor to learn more about her work at FPG. Here’s what she had to say.

Tell us about your professional journey—and what brought you to FPG?

After graduating from Indiana University, I moved to North Carolina to spend the summer with my best friend from college who was starting pre-med at Duke. I got a teaching job with Orange County Schools and taught kindergarten/first grade for 12 years. After having my own children, I ran a home-preschool program. As my children got older, a friend recommended I apply for a part-time position as a data collector at FPG and I jumped at the chance. My position as an assessor for the TRI research project led me back to school to earn my Master’s Degree in Special Education.

What do you do at FPG—describe your job, walk us through a typical day, and tell us about the projects you're currently working on.

I work for TRI as a literacy coach on a replication study looking at the long-term effects of the TRI intervention. I love my job connecting with teachers and students each day. Throughout the day, TRI teachers meet with me on Zoom while they teach their students how to read using our evidence-based reading intervention. I also create TRI YouTube videos and additional documents to help disseminate our reading research to teachers in the field. TRI has partnered with the University of Florida to create an app that teachers, tutors, and caregivers can use to teach children how to read. It has been a new learning experience in marketing and program design and with Dr. Aiken’s [FPG Research Scientist Heather Aiken, PhD] leadership we have risen to the challenge.

I recently joined the Georgia pre-K Summer Transition Program team with Dr. Hong [FPG Senior Research Scientist Sandy Hong, PhD]. As a new team member, I am learning the ropes and dipping my toes back into data collection. I am supporting the data collectors working in Georgia pre-K classrooms to conduct classroom observations. I love learning from and working with this fantastic team.

How does your work further the mission of FPG?

I think the best thing about my job―besides the wonderful people I work alongside each day―is the feeling that my work matters and makes a difference in the life of a child. Both TRI and the Georgia pre-K project are built on advocating for the best outcomes for ALL young children. These programs demonstrate FPG’s commitment to support families and further educational improvements in the classroom. I feel blessed that I have the opportunity to make a teacher’s or child’s life better through my interactions and support.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell our readers?

Looking back, I am so grateful for the chance I’ve been given to work at FPG. Everyone along my journey made me stronger and smarter. I am so lucky to be surrounded by amazing people who motivate me through their dedication and strong work ethic.