New teacher in therapeutic classroom loves teaching — and getting kids to smile

As a teacher, Brad Taylor is focused on imparting as much knowledge as he can to his students. He has one more goal.

“I want to make them smile,” he said. Something he likes to do himself.

“Brad always has a smile on his face,” said Lanell Finneran, a teacher in the Secondary Therapeutic Classroom at the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. “It’s obvious he loves teaching. He is dedicated to enriching the lives of his students.”

Taylor is a new teacher in the Secondary Therapeutic Classroom, a partnership between Bert Nash and the Lawrence School District. Housed at the Center, the classroom, which is in its 24th year, provides a structured, therapeutic environment for middle school and high school students who are experiencing social-emotional issues, such as anxiety or depression, and who struggled to function in a traditional classroom setting.

This is sadly becoming essential for many kids across the country, and more people like Taylor are going to be needed. It can be an emotionally difficult environment to work in at times, and those looking to apply for similar jobs to Taylor must complete a "working with children" check, but it can be an incredibly rewarding experience to see kids smile when you know that they’ve been struggling.

Moreover, now that mental health has become a part of regular fitness checkups, schools may also provide psychological support to children and teachers to help them with mental issues. Private schools might have better aids and facilities for emotional therapy than community schools, which parents can consider before enrolling their kids in a school. 

Taylor is trying to be a part of the bigger change that has brought the attention of the public to mental health issues, especially in children. And he is doing something great for the community.

“This is the perfect place for them,” Taylor said of the therapeutic classroom. “This is their second chance, and I’m a second chance kind of guy.”

Taylor, who is on staff with the Lawrence School District, has been a teacher since 1991, mostly at the Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka. He was excited when he found out about the job at the therapeutic classroom.

“I interviewed for a different position,” Taylor said. “But the person I interviewed with said I have this position you would be perfect for.”

Turns out, she was right.

“I love being here,” Taylor said. “Every day that I’m here, I’m more and more grateful to be here.” This is Taylor’s first time to work with middle school students, and it’s been a perfect fit.

“They’re great,” Taylor said. “I have the same kids all day long, and I love that.” The students feel the same way about having Taylor as their teacher.

“He is a good teacher, who is logical and reasonable,” said one student.

“He makes me understand right and wrong and he’s fun, but serious at the same time,” another student said.

Taylor enjoys being part of the therapeutic classroom staff, which includes therapists from Bert Nash, paraprofessionals from USD 497, and Ranger, the trained therapist Jack Russell terrier. Working in collaboration, they have been in discussion to improve the facility with a little advancement, possibly in the form of digital signage.

“We work real well together,” Taylor said of the staff. “They’ve made me feel really welcome as the new guy. I’ve just been feeding off of them.”

Nancy Garrett, one of the Bert Nash therapists in the therapeutic classroom, said Taylor has fit in well with the rest of the staff.

“Brad brings a lifetime of experience working with kids with special needs,” Garrett said. “I’m thankful he is willing to share that knowledge and experience with us.”