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A Teacher of the Year Who Never Planned to Teach
“All right, well, welcome to the Town Square Podcast today. We are joined by the 2024–2025 Newton County Schools Teacher of the Year, Ms. Taylor Moody.” From that first line, it’s clear this conversation was going to be special. Co-hosts Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey welcomed a guest whose story has already inspired students, teachers and families across Newton County—and whose influence is now being felt statewide.
Ms. Moody holds a rare combination of humility and momentum. In just six years in the classroom, she was named NCS Teacher of the Year and advanced to the Top 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year. She also serves on district and state advisory groups to help shape the future of ELA standards and teacher voice in Georgia. Yet, as she told us, none of this was part of her original plan.
“I’m a first-generation college graduate. I equated success with money, so I started at UGA as a math major and thought I’d be a real estate lawyer.”
Then life happened.
The Detour That Became a Calling
In college, Taylor experienced a sudden health crisis—fluid building behind her eyes that led to vision loss and migraines. The treatments slowed everything down. Reading and writing felt different. Processing emotions was harder. She needed tutoring, leaned into creative writing, and published poems born out of that season.
“I began to see the power of literacy. I wanted to be on the other side of it—helping students who feel the way I felt: unable, stuck, uncertain—discover what reading and writing can do to heal, express, and empower.”
She switched majors to English Education and then faced an unthinkable early-career hardship—losing two students to suicide within two weeks.
“College prepared me to teach English. It did not prepare me for that. My mom said, ‘You have to decide—this is beyond grading and lesson plans.’ That’s when teaching became my ministry.”
From that moment forward, Ms. Moody wasn’t just teaching ELA standards; she was teaching human beings.
From Math Brain to ELA Heart—Why That Combo Works
Most people either love math or English. Taylor is fluent in both. That makes her especially effective with STEM-minded students who doubt they’ll ever love literature.
“I tell them I started as a math major. It gives me credibility with the STEM kids. But I needed a classroom where 25 different answers could be right if you can support your thinking. I wanted students to experience learning that’s adventurous, expressive, opinionated, and deeply human.”
Her math background also brings structure and systems thinking to the way she designs projects. Which leads us to…
Project-Based Learning That Solves Real Problems
Taylor is a champion of project-based learning (PBL) that merges ELA standards with real-world outcomes. Students don’t just analyze texts or write essays—they design solutions with measurable community impact, collaborate with engineering and healthcare pathways, and present their work to real experts.
“Quick Save CPR” — Student Innovation Takes the Stage
In Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition, one of her student teams designed Quick Save CPR, a guided mat that lays over a patient and prompts the rescuer through correct compressions. It lights up to show hand placement, provides rhythm cues (think “Stayin’ Alive”), and changes color feedback if you’re pushing too hard or not hard enough—solving a common failure point in community CPR response.
They connected their innovation to a local problem—ambulance delays and community response anxiety—and worked with engineering instructors to code and prototype the device.
“People think they know CPR until the moment they need it. Anxiety spikes, technique fades. The mat coaches you in real time.”
The team earned state-level recognition and was named Youth of the Year in Newton County.
A Migraine Patch—And a State Win
The next year, her class identified overuse of OTC pain meds as a community issue—especially the risks of ibuprofen/acetaminophen reliance. A new team designed a headache patch concept to stimulate a nerve pathway behind the neck to relieve migraines—like a targeted neuromodulation approach.
They earned State Winner honors and invited Piedmont’s Chief Medical Officer to mentor their work. He offered this simple advice: if they can fully realize the mechanism and conduct validation, file a patent.
“These are 17-year-olds building solutions with professionals. That’s the promise of public education when it’s done right.”
Why PBL Fits ELA
Ms. Moody weaves reading, writing, rhetoric, research, and communication skills into every stage—proposal writing, literature reviews, technical writing, multimodal presentations, and reflective argumentation. Along the way, students learn feedback cycles, iteration, resilience, and audience awareness—all core ELA outcomes with authentic stakes.
It’s one thing to ace a quiz. It’s another to build something a hospital might want on the shelf.
Teaching Through a Pandemic: Black Boxes, Open Hearts
Taylor’s entry into professional teaching intersected with the pandemic. She finished her student teaching on Zoom. Her first year? Half remote, half in person—with black screens, muted mics, and students struggling far beyond academics.
So, she did what great teachers do—she adapted.
“Mental health became impossible to ignore. The learning mattered, but the relationships mattered most.”
She even got observed by an admin during a show-and-tell. Rather than panic, she leaned in. If anything, it proved what evaluators most hope to see: a teacher building trust so learning can happen.
“You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Powerful.”
That’s the line Ms. Moody carries into every talk and training. As Teacher of the Year, she spoke to new teachers across Newton County, discovering that she loves public speaking and has more to share than she imagined.
“Veteran teachers cried, hugged me, and told me my words mattered. They still text for advice during a tough week. You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful—and we need that truth in education.”
She now serves:
Her message to teachers and leaders is consistent: teacher voice matters—locally and statewide.
The Power—and Limits—of Public Education
When she advanced to the state Top 10, finalists had to deliver a three-minute elevator pitch on the power of public education. As a proud product of public schools and a first-gen college graduate, Ms. Moody didn’t have to manufacture passion.
She told stories: of students who were dismissed as average or worse, who are now engineers or Naval aviation grads; of a 2021 note that still hangs in her room—“Thank you for believing in me when no one else did.”
“Public education is a launchpad. Not every student has access to the same resources. But school can be where access begins.”
The Challenges We Can’t Ignore
Even so, Taylor doesn’t sugarcoat the obstacles:
She believes the system designed long before smartphones—and even before many modern careers—is overdue for re-imagination. And while teacher pensions remain a powerful long-term benefit, we can’t expect people to endure 30 years in unsustainable conditions.
“We need to rethink the system and fund the people doing the work. We can’t add pathways without the humans to teach them.”
Culture, Care, and Classroom Craft
If you visit Ms. Moody’s room at the Newton College & Career Academy, you’ll notice a few things right away.
“Not everyone will be an English teacher. But everyone will need to read, write, speak, and think in public. That’s our job.”
Advice for Newton’s New Teacher of the Year (and Every Teacher)
Asked what she’d say to Dr. Quinita Morrow, Newton County’s newly named Teacher of the Year, Taylor’s counsel was both warm and weighty:
And for new teachers, her day-one advice is simple and profound: save every note and remember why you’re here. In her room, one message—“Thank you for believing in me when nobody else did”—still leads the way.
How Parents and the Community Can Help (Right Now)
Taylor’s heart for partnership is on full display. She works across pathways and invites the broader community into her classroom regularly.
Here’s what she says parents and community partners can do today:
If you’re in Newton (or nearby) and want to collaborate on a community-based project, Taylor is all in.
“Invite us in. Let my students see your world. They’ll surprise you with what they build.”
Connect with Ms. Moody:
Conversation Highlights (Great for Skimming & Sharing)
Listen, Share, and Support the Show
If you love conversations that live in the messy middle—where Newton County neighbors swap perspectives with humility and hope—this episode is for you. Please:
The Town Square Podcast is powered by donations and gifts from our community. If you believe in building unity (not uniformity) here in Newton County, please consider a one-time gift or a small $2 or $5 monthly recurring donation to keep local conversations coming:
👉 Donate: https://www.thetownsquarepodcast.com/donate
Every share, rating, and dollar makes a difference. Thank you!
Important Links Mentioned
Sponsor Spotlight (Thank You for Supporting Local!)
Bizzy Bee Exterminators (Locally Owned & Operated)
LeAnne Long — RE/MAX Around Atlanta East (Covington)
Support the businesses that support local storytelling in Newton County.
By Trey Bailey, Gabriel StovallA Teacher of the Year Who Never Planned to Teach
“All right, well, welcome to the Town Square Podcast today. We are joined by the 2024–2025 Newton County Schools Teacher of the Year, Ms. Taylor Moody.” From that first line, it’s clear this conversation was going to be special. Co-hosts Gabriel Stovall and Trey Bailey welcomed a guest whose story has already inspired students, teachers and families across Newton County—and whose influence is now being felt statewide.
Ms. Moody holds a rare combination of humility and momentum. In just six years in the classroom, she was named NCS Teacher of the Year and advanced to the Top 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year. She also serves on district and state advisory groups to help shape the future of ELA standards and teacher voice in Georgia. Yet, as she told us, none of this was part of her original plan.
“I’m a first-generation college graduate. I equated success with money, so I started at UGA as a math major and thought I’d be a real estate lawyer.”
Then life happened.
The Detour That Became a Calling
In college, Taylor experienced a sudden health crisis—fluid building behind her eyes that led to vision loss and migraines. The treatments slowed everything down. Reading and writing felt different. Processing emotions was harder. She needed tutoring, leaned into creative writing, and published poems born out of that season.
“I began to see the power of literacy. I wanted to be on the other side of it—helping students who feel the way I felt: unable, stuck, uncertain—discover what reading and writing can do to heal, express, and empower.”
She switched majors to English Education and then faced an unthinkable early-career hardship—losing two students to suicide within two weeks.
“College prepared me to teach English. It did not prepare me for that. My mom said, ‘You have to decide—this is beyond grading and lesson plans.’ That’s when teaching became my ministry.”
From that moment forward, Ms. Moody wasn’t just teaching ELA standards; she was teaching human beings.
From Math Brain to ELA Heart—Why That Combo Works
Most people either love math or English. Taylor is fluent in both. That makes her especially effective with STEM-minded students who doubt they’ll ever love literature.
“I tell them I started as a math major. It gives me credibility with the STEM kids. But I needed a classroom where 25 different answers could be right if you can support your thinking. I wanted students to experience learning that’s adventurous, expressive, opinionated, and deeply human.”
Her math background also brings structure and systems thinking to the way she designs projects. Which leads us to…
Project-Based Learning That Solves Real Problems
Taylor is a champion of project-based learning (PBL) that merges ELA standards with real-world outcomes. Students don’t just analyze texts or write essays—they design solutions with measurable community impact, collaborate with engineering and healthcare pathways, and present their work to real experts.
“Quick Save CPR” — Student Innovation Takes the Stage
In Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition, one of her student teams designed Quick Save CPR, a guided mat that lays over a patient and prompts the rescuer through correct compressions. It lights up to show hand placement, provides rhythm cues (think “Stayin’ Alive”), and changes color feedback if you’re pushing too hard or not hard enough—solving a common failure point in community CPR response.
They connected their innovation to a local problem—ambulance delays and community response anxiety—and worked with engineering instructors to code and prototype the device.
“People think they know CPR until the moment they need it. Anxiety spikes, technique fades. The mat coaches you in real time.”
The team earned state-level recognition and was named Youth of the Year in Newton County.
A Migraine Patch—And a State Win
The next year, her class identified overuse of OTC pain meds as a community issue—especially the risks of ibuprofen/acetaminophen reliance. A new team designed a headache patch concept to stimulate a nerve pathway behind the neck to relieve migraines—like a targeted neuromodulation approach.
They earned State Winner honors and invited Piedmont’s Chief Medical Officer to mentor their work. He offered this simple advice: if they can fully realize the mechanism and conduct validation, file a patent.
“These are 17-year-olds building solutions with professionals. That’s the promise of public education when it’s done right.”
Why PBL Fits ELA
Ms. Moody weaves reading, writing, rhetoric, research, and communication skills into every stage—proposal writing, literature reviews, technical writing, multimodal presentations, and reflective argumentation. Along the way, students learn feedback cycles, iteration, resilience, and audience awareness—all core ELA outcomes with authentic stakes.
It’s one thing to ace a quiz. It’s another to build something a hospital might want on the shelf.
Teaching Through a Pandemic: Black Boxes, Open Hearts
Taylor’s entry into professional teaching intersected with the pandemic. She finished her student teaching on Zoom. Her first year? Half remote, half in person—with black screens, muted mics, and students struggling far beyond academics.
So, she did what great teachers do—she adapted.
“Mental health became impossible to ignore. The learning mattered, but the relationships mattered most.”
She even got observed by an admin during a show-and-tell. Rather than panic, she leaned in. If anything, it proved what evaluators most hope to see: a teacher building trust so learning can happen.
“You Don’t Have to Be Perfect to Be Powerful.”
That’s the line Ms. Moody carries into every talk and training. As Teacher of the Year, she spoke to new teachers across Newton County, discovering that she loves public speaking and has more to share than she imagined.
“Veteran teachers cried, hugged me, and told me my words mattered. They still text for advice during a tough week. You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful—and we need that truth in education.”
She now serves:
Her message to teachers and leaders is consistent: teacher voice matters—locally and statewide.
The Power—and Limits—of Public Education
When she advanced to the state Top 10, finalists had to deliver a three-minute elevator pitch on the power of public education. As a proud product of public schools and a first-gen college graduate, Ms. Moody didn’t have to manufacture passion.
She told stories: of students who were dismissed as average or worse, who are now engineers or Naval aviation grads; of a 2021 note that still hangs in her room—“Thank you for believing in me when no one else did.”
“Public education is a launchpad. Not every student has access to the same resources. But school can be where access begins.”
The Challenges We Can’t Ignore
Even so, Taylor doesn’t sugarcoat the obstacles:
She believes the system designed long before smartphones—and even before many modern careers—is overdue for re-imagination. And while teacher pensions remain a powerful long-term benefit, we can’t expect people to endure 30 years in unsustainable conditions.
“We need to rethink the system and fund the people doing the work. We can’t add pathways without the humans to teach them.”
Culture, Care, and Classroom Craft
If you visit Ms. Moody’s room at the Newton College & Career Academy, you’ll notice a few things right away.
“Not everyone will be an English teacher. But everyone will need to read, write, speak, and think in public. That’s our job.”
Advice for Newton’s New Teacher of the Year (and Every Teacher)
Asked what she’d say to Dr. Quinita Morrow, Newton County’s newly named Teacher of the Year, Taylor’s counsel was both warm and weighty:
And for new teachers, her day-one advice is simple and profound: save every note and remember why you’re here. In her room, one message—“Thank you for believing in me when nobody else did”—still leads the way.
How Parents and the Community Can Help (Right Now)
Taylor’s heart for partnership is on full display. She works across pathways and invites the broader community into her classroom regularly.
Here’s what she says parents and community partners can do today:
If you’re in Newton (or nearby) and want to collaborate on a community-based project, Taylor is all in.
“Invite us in. Let my students see your world. They’ll surprise you with what they build.”
Connect with Ms. Moody:
Conversation Highlights (Great for Skimming & Sharing)
Listen, Share, and Support the Show
If you love conversations that live in the messy middle—where Newton County neighbors swap perspectives with humility and hope—this episode is for you. Please:
The Town Square Podcast is powered by donations and gifts from our community. If you believe in building unity (not uniformity) here in Newton County, please consider a one-time gift or a small $2 or $5 monthly recurring donation to keep local conversations coming:
👉 Donate: https://www.thetownsquarepodcast.com/donate
Every share, rating, and dollar makes a difference. Thank you!
Important Links Mentioned
Sponsor Spotlight (Thank You for Supporting Local!)
Bizzy Bee Exterminators (Locally Owned & Operated)
LeAnne Long — RE/MAX Around Atlanta East (Covington)
Support the businesses that support local storytelling in Newton County.