Honoring and celebrating Elizabeth Taylor, 10th and 11th-grade social studies teacher at Masterman High School and recipient of the 2024 David McCullough Teacher Prize for excellence in American Public History.
WHEREAS, Elizabeth "Liz" Taylor has been a Philadelphia School District teacher for nineteen years. Over the course of her accomplished career, Taylor has demonstrated a passion for making history both engaging and accessible for rising generations; and
WHEREAS, Taylor grew up in Wichita, Kansas. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, Taylor went on to complete both a Master of Arts in teaching Social Studies from Columbia University and a Master of Arts in History from Temple University; and
WHEREAS, Taylor began teaching in 2001 in the West Contra Costa Unified School District in California and later joined the School District of Philadelphia in 2005. Taylor spent her first three years at Roberto Clemente Middle School as a seventh-grade World Cultures and Geography and eighth-grade US History teacher, and later took her current position at Masterman; and
WHEREAS, In addition to her regular teaching duties, Taylor is the Social Studies department facilitator, sponsor of the school's National History Day program, and supports student-run voter registration and education initiatives; and
WHEREAS, Taylor is a member of the National Council of Social Studies, National History Day Philly Teacher Advisory Group, Organization of American Historians, and Association for the Study of African American Life and History. She is also co-author of A Guide to Student Research and Historical Argumentation, a book that serves as a resource for educators teaching argumentative writing; and
WHEREAS, Outside of school, Taylor is married with three children, and enjoys long walks, jogging, reading, and spending time with her family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Throughout her career, Taylor's passion and talent for ...
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