Taylor High debuts new CTE wing

A door to the future has opened at Taylor High School.

Community members, teachers, students, Samsung Austin Semiconductor executives and other industry sponsors gathered Thursday for a ribbon cutting and open house at the high school’s new Career & Technical Education wing.

Funded in part by the Taylor Independent School District’s May 2022 bond plus a $1 million donation by Samsung, the CTE wing is a modern, high-tech facility “setting the stage for our current and future generations and future Ducks for many years to come,” said Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen.

The Mallard duck is the high school’s mascot.

The CTE facility under the direction of Steven Vigil, former principal of Taylor Middle School, will offer coursework in technology, manufacturing, agriculture and health.

While the bond brought many improvements to Taylor High and across the district, Garcia-Edwardsen noted progress doesn’t happen overnight.

The idea for a CTE program “started off as a dream and you all in this room and in this community helped to make this happen,” the superintendent said during the June 12 ceremony.

She thanked Samsung for its financial aid, and praised community members, the city and trustees for their support.

“We’re not just cutting a ribbon, we’re opening the door to new opportunities, greater potential and a stronger future for our students…It’s a testament to what a community can achieve when we invest in our students,” said Shelli Cobb, a City Council member and former Taylor ISD teacher and coach.

School board President Marco Ortiz, Williamson County Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles, Taylor High Principal Matt Wamble and Samsung executives John Taylor and Jeffrey Go also addressed the guests before the ribbon cutting.

Taylor noted Samsung has partnered with the school district in more ways than just providing financial contributions, including volunteerism and his personal favorite — hosting 24 student interns the past four summers.

“We express deep appreciation to the Taylor school district and to the state of Texas. We’re proud of the collaboration in this community,” Taylor said.

Go, vice president of Samsung Taylor, spoke of how Taylor High and the CTE wing now have not only state-of-the-art equipment but an atmosphere of innovation and learning.

“The future of Taylor is here with you,” Go said.

The district also recently hosted an open house and ribbon cutting for both Main Street Elementary and Taylor Middle schools. With the bond update, Main Street received a new kitchen and gymnasium and a renovated cafetorium.

The middle school saw building extensions and renovations, including classrooms for the fine arts department. Landscaping work is still underway but will be completed before the start of the school year.