HCPSSGet to Know Taylor Stetka, Reading Specialist, Oakland Mills Middle School
September 30th, 2026
Why did you choose to work in education?
I knew since Kindergarten that I wanted to be a teacher. My teacher embodied the kindness, patience, and welcoming energy teachers strive for! My middle school science teacher took the time to help me recognize my own test anxiety and how to overcome it. My high school math teacher spent her lunch and after school hours helping me catch up on so much work when I missed a lot of school. The support of these teachers stuck with me throughout my academic career. And it was working with students in my high school’s Life Skills program and our Best Buddies chapter that made me decide to pursue Special Education. I initially thought “never middle school,” but 14 years later, I cannot imagine working anywhere else!
What is your role within HCPSS?
As one of our school’s Reading Specialists, I work with students who are two or more grade levels below their peers in the areas of decoding and comprehension. My seminars are full year classes for the students I teach. Though I love the opportunity to work with some students for multiple years, the real goal for students is to exit Intervention and it is an incredible feeling when a student demonstrates enough growth and mastery in our class (and their other content areas) to indicate they are able to exit the program!
What is the best professional advice you’ve ever received?
I once read a quote that said, “And if those children are unresponsive, maybe you can’t teach them yet, but you can love them. And if you can love them today, maybe you can teach them tomorrow.” That has stuck with me over the years and proved true time and time again. So many students crave relationships, yet many don’t know how to go about forming them. Convincing students they are cared for creates a security that makes them more willing, and even more motivated, to try hard things.
What is something you like a lot that would surprise people?
I love looking for shark teeth. I have thousands and use them to create resin art.
What is on your bucket list?
I have always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon!
What is the most interesting place you’ve ever been?
Antarctica would be at the top of the list. You feel so utterly small and it is so refreshing to see so much of the land unclaimed by humans, with the exception of a tiny little post office on Port Lockroy. If you are an adventurer and would enjoy kayaking around dolphins porpoising, snow shoeing, camping, or taking a polar plunge, this is the place for you … unless you get sea sick– the Drake Passage can be a doozy.