March Renaissance Teacher of the Month: Mrs. Christie Taylor

Every month the Renaissance Club selects one teacher or staff member to be the Teacher/Staff of the month

By Morgan Bridges, Social Media Director|March 23, 2017

EE: What inspired you to become a teacher?

Christie Taylor: I never planned on becoming a teacher.  Although I liked learning, homework was my nemesis.  What changed my mind was being an assistant in the Health Tech Program, which is where I started.  (I worked full-time as an RN at HealthSouth in Altoona, either evening or night shift, and would come in to help students at clinical and in the classroom.)  This opened my eyes to the joy of teaching.  I think it also helped that both of my parents are teachers.

EE: How long have you been teaching?

CT: This is my 13th year teaching.

EE: Have you always taught at Tyrone? If not, where else?

CT: I have always taught at Tyrone and love it!  I can’t imagine being anywhere else…

EE: What is your favorite memory as a teacher?

CT: I have so many favorite memories teaching.    It is hard to choose…   We have fun in the classroom as we learn about medicine.  I think many of my happiest times are running into Tyrone Alumni out in the medical field, doing what they dreamed of [doing] back in high school.

EE: If you weren’t teaching right now, what do you think you would have done with your life?

CT: I would still be working as an RN at some type of health care facility–hospital, office, or nursing home.

EE: Where did you attend high school?

CT: I went to Bishop Guilfoyle.

EE: Where did you attend college?

CT: I got my Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree at Mount Aloysius and my Master of Science Degree in Education at Penn State.

EE: What’s your favorite book?

CT: I love Mitch Albom’s The Five People You Meet in Heaven.  It shows how you could impact someone’s life with the briefest moment of interaction.

EE: What is your favorite sport and sports team?

CT: I love volleyball and watching football.  Go Steelers and Penn State!

EE: What are some of your favorite hobbies?

CT: In addition to all in [the last question], I love spending time with my family and friends, especially my soon-to-be 5 year old daughter.  I like watching movies.  Of course, I love medicine!  I could not imagine teaching anything else!