As a Level IV designated educator, AP Psychology teacher, course facilitator, and content writer at YES Prep West Secondary, Taylor Weingartner has built a reputation for helping students develop one of the most important skills they can carry into adulthood: the ability to think critically for themselves. 

Finding Her Way to the Classroom 

Teaching was not Taylor's first career. 

Fresh out of college, she worked in cancer research at MD Anderson before transitioning into leadership roles at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. Along the way, she also became a yoga instructor, spending years helping others learn, grow, and challenge themselves. 

The common thread through every role was her desire to guide people toward becoming their best selves. 

"I have always been interested in teaching," Taylor shared. "After a few years of teaching yoga, I felt confident enough to transfer those skills to the classroom because I felt it would meld my love of guiding with a position that would help positively contribute to the next generations." 

What began as an interest eventually became a calling. 

Today, she channels that same passion into helping students navigate complex ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and develop confidence in their own voices. 

Creating a Generation of Critical Thinkers 

Ask Taylor what inspired her to become a teacher, and her answer isn't centered on test scores or curriculum standards. 

It's about empowerment. More specifically, empowering students to think for themselves. 

Taylor credits her own AP English Literature teacher, Mr. MacGregor, for helping shape that mindset. Years later, she still sees him challenging misinformation and encouraging thoughtful discourse. 

That example continues to influence her work today. 

"I wanted to empower students with the skills to be their own iteration of punk rock," Taylor explained. "Teaching kids to read and think critically about the media they consume is important in creating informed young adults." 

In AP Psychology, those lessons come to life every day. 

Students learn how to evaluate research, question claims, analyze evidence, and make informed decisions about topics that affect their lives, from health information to emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. 

For Taylor, helping students develop those skills is about much more than passing a course. 

It's about preparing them to navigate the world thoughtfully, responsibly, and independently. 

Learning Alongside Her Students 

One of Taylor's most defining characteristics as an educator is her willingness to remain a learner herself. 

Rather than positioning herself as the expert with all the answers, she embraces the idea that growth comes from curiosity and collaboration. 

"Allow the beginner to live alongside the expert," she said. 

Whether she's observing colleagues, participating in professional development, or incorporating student-created memory strategies into classroom instruction, Taylor continuously seeks opportunities to improve her practice. 

"I recognize I don't know everything, I'm not even close," she shared. "I actively try to learn from those around me." 

That humility creates a classroom culture where students feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and embracing their own learning journeys. 

It's also a mindset that reflects one of YES Prep's core beliefs: excellence requires continuous growth. 

The Email That Changed a Life 

For many educators, the most meaningful moments happen long after a lesson ends. 

For Taylor, one of those moments came through a student named Hernan. 

Taylor first taught Hernan in eighth grade and later again in tenth grade. Throughout the years, she watched him wrestle with insecurities about being older than many of his classmates—struggles that at times made him question whether he should stay in school at all. 

During Taylor's maternity leave, Hernan made several choices that concerned those around him. When she learned about what had happened, she sent him an email. 

Years later, Hernan returned to tell her something she never expected to hear. He credited that email as the turning point in his life. The moment that helped him realize he needed to make a change. 

Today, Hernan has made positive choices, remained in school, and continues working toward a brighter future. More importantly, he recognizes the value of the life he is building for himself and the pride his family feels in his perseverance. 

"He came up to me earlier this year and credited my message as being his rock bottom that turned him around," Taylor recalled. 

Moments like these serve as a powerful reminder that the impact of a teacher is often impossible to measure in data alone. 

Sometimes, it's a conversation. Sometimes, it's a relationship. 

And sometimes, it's a single message that changes the trajectory of a student's life. 

Why YES Prep 

For Taylor, YES Prep remains the place where she can do the work she loves while feeling valued as a professional. 

"I get the opportunity to do what I really like to do in a place wherein I feel like my skills and opinions are respected," she shared. 

That sense of purpose and partnership has allowed her to continue growing as both an educator and a leader while helping shape the experiences of countless students along the way. 

Advice for Future Educators 

When asked what advice she would offer to educators entering the profession, Taylor shared a lesson grounded in empathy and understanding. 

"Expectations are premeditated resentments." 

It's a reminder that students come to school with experiences, perspectives, and challenges that may be vastly different from our own. 

By approaching students with curiosity rather than assumptions, educators create space for authentic relationships, meaningful learning, and lasting impact. 

At YES Prep, teachers like Taylor Weingartner remind us that education is about more than delivering content. It's about helping students become informed, confident, and thoughtful individuals who are prepared to make their own mark on the world. 

And sometimes, the most powerful lesson a teacher can give is teaching students how to think for themselves. 

 

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YES Prep is committed to developing exceptional educators and building leaders from within. Through meaningful coaching, professional growth opportunities, and a mission-driven culture, teachers are empowered to make a lasting impact on students and communities across Houston. 

If you're passionate about helping students thrive and want to be part of a team dedicated to educational excellence, we invite you to explore opportunities with YES Prep. We are currently hiring talented educators across multiple areas, including bilingual education and special education. 

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