Harriet Taylor Springfield Elementary School

Before Harriet Taylor became the Principal she is today, she entered Bay District Schools as a third grader at none other than Springfield Elementary School, saying “It’s kind of cool that I got to start my career in the district here and now I get to end it here.” At Springfield, Harriet found her love for school. She describes her family as “abusive and very poor.” For her, the school became a break from her tumultuous home life, a place where she saw adults who lived their lives in a way that she admired. “Back then they sold ice creams on Friday, and my family could never afford to buy one, so my fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Snell used to let me stay after school and clean the chalkboards and then she’d buy me an ice cream as payment,” Harriet says fondly. These types of small yet compassionate gestures genuinely had an impact on Harriet’s life and her view of teachers. She said this small gift from a woman whom she truly respected made …show more content…
Taylor laughs, speaking candidly about her retirement. “I want to have a lot of fun and just relax once I retire.” Harriet plans on spending time with her husband, Kenny, whom she thanks profusely for his support and credits him with many of her successes, as well as her son, daughter, and two granddaughters. She also plans on becoming more involved with her church, “I’m a Sunday school teacher so I’ll never be away from the kids entirely.” After the last day of school in June, Harriet will officially retire as the Principal of Springfield but it is doubtful that she will ever truly retire from her lifelong journey as an educator, relationship builder, and a mentor. Harriet’s time at Springfield will certainly be remembered as one full of fun and excitement. “I wish I could whip and nae-nae like she can!” says third grader Mina Blair, a student who will probably never forget the relationship she shared with her mentor, Principal Harriet