Adna School District

Mrs. Taylor Carroll was nominated by our family for Teacher of the Year through the Office of the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction. She completely deserves to win; however, if she doesn’t, I was hoping at least her community could know how wonderful she is.

This is what was submitted:

I haven’t had the headspace until recently to fully put into words why my son’s teacher deserves Teacher of the Year. But she absolutely does. I believe that if you take the time to read our story, you will understand why.

My sweet, curious, funny and incredibly joyful 5-year-old, Roman, joined Mrs. Carroll’s kindergarten class in September 2024. Roman has always had a light about him, the kind of child whose laughter fills a room and whose goofy, happy spirit naturally draws other children in. He loves people, and people love him.

Just one month into the school year, our world changed when Roman was diagnosed with cancer.

It was devastating for our family, but it was also confusing and upsetting for an entire classroom of 5-year-olds who suddenly learned that their friend was very sick. The word “cancer” is heavy for adults; imagine trying to explain it to a room full of innocent children who simply knew their friend was gone and didn’t understand why.

How does a teacher guide a classroom through something like that?

How do you help young children process fear, sadness and confusion while still creating a space where they feel safe, supported and ready to learn?

Mrs. Carroll did it with compassion, grace and strength.

While Roman was in the hospital, he received letters, drawings and beautiful banners from his classmates. They reminded him that he was loved and missed. But Mrs. Carroll didn’t stop there. She drove more than an hour to visit him in the hospital and sat with him while reading one of his favorite books.

That moment meant the world to our family.

When Roman was finally able to return home, Mrs. Carroll continued to show up. She visited him with class crafts, read stories with him and brought messages from his friends. She wore a mask and met Roman exactly where he was during an incredibly difficult time, making sure he still felt connected to his classroom and community.

A year later, in September 2025, Roman was strong enough to return and try kindergarten again.

After everything he had been through, Roman came back with different needs, different challenges and a few quirks. Mrs. Carroll has handled every single one of those needs with patience, flexibility and care.

We communicate regularly, and what stands out most is how beautifully she balances helping Roman while also allowing him to simply be a kid. She supports him without singling him out. She adapts without making him feel different. And she does all of this while giving the same attention, dedication and compassion to every other child in her classroom.

Mrs. Carroll doesn’t just teach students. She shows up for them, everywhere.

She shows up at hospitals.

She shows up at homes.

She shows up at sporting events, parades and award ceremonies.

She meets her students where they are in life, not just where they sit at a desk.

Because of that, she has earned something incredibly special: the deep respect and trust of her community. Families know that when their children walk into her classroom, they are seen, supported and valued.

Over the past two years, Mrs. Carroll has navigated the mental, emotional and physical demands of teaching with extraordinary resilience. Her classroom includes students with a wide range of needs, whether it be medical challenges, language barriers, sensory sensitivities and more. She handles each situation with professionalism, empathy and a calm confidence that keeps her classroom thriving even in difficult circumstances.

Kindergarten is the foundation of a child’s entire educational journey. Mrs. Carroll takes that responsibility seriously. She works closely with other teachers to ensure her students leave her classroom prepared for the years ahead. She does everything expected of a great teacher and so much more.

As a parent who has been part of her classroom for two years, I have seen firsthand the time, energy and heart she pours into her students and their families. She goes far beyond what is written in any job description.

Let’s be honest: being a kindergarten teacher already requires patience, energy and a heart bigger than most people can imagine. But on top of that, Mrs. Carroll carried the emotional weight of helping an entire classroom navigate the illness of their friend while still maintaining a joyful, stable learning environment.

She is strong. She is compassionate. She is deeply dedicated to every child she teaches.

At the beginning of this nomination, I asked how a teacher manages something as complex and emotional as explaining cancer to a classroom of 5-year-olds while still successfully running a classroom.

The truth is, I still don’t know how she did it.

But she did.

Mrs. Carroll deserves far more than this award. If I could give her a private island for everything she has done for our son and our community, I would. This nomination is simply the best way I know how to say thank you.

She has a heart of gold and the strength of a lion.

And she will always have our family’s vote.

(Photos of Mrs. Carroll and Roman provided by Abbey Wagner)