Taylor, Dr. Teneshia
Dean of Student Life
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Taylor, Dr. Teneshia
Dean of Student Life
Ed.D., Education Studies: Policy and Leadership, University of Northern Colorado (University Distinguished Dissertation Award Nomination)
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction, University of Phoenix
B.A., Africana Studies, University of Northern Colorado
Dr. Teneshia A. Taylor is an accomplished educational leader with over 20 years of experience creating supportive, inclusive learning environments where all students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Currently serving as Dean of Student Life at The Colorado Springs School, Dr. Taylor brings exceptional expertise in student behavioral support, social-emotional learning implementation, and restorative justice practices to foster a positive school culture centered on student voice and agency.
As the 2023 Asa G. Hilliard III and Barbara A. Sizemore Research Fellow, Dr. Taylor has distinguished herself as a champion for child well-being and educational equity. She holds an Ed.D. in Education Policy and Leadership focused on education reform and innovation from the University of Northern Colorado, where her dissertation earned a Distinguished Dissertation Award nomination, along with a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction. With additional certification in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University, her innovative, student-centered leadership philosophy prioritizes amplifying student voices while developing each child's character, community connections, and curiosity.
During her international experience as a consultant for U.S. Department of State-supported schools all over the world, she developed groundbreaking initiatives that elevated student voices in social-emotional programming, designed restorative justice workshops where students co-created solutions for identity-based harm, and facilitated youth-led conversations around social and emotional intelligence—always placing child protection and well-being at the forefront. As Co-Founder and Committee Chair of the Research Collaborative for the Association of International School Leaders of Color (AIELOC), Dr. Taylor mentored emerging scholars who honor student experiences. Her scholarly work includes several peer-reviewed publications on child safeguarding, and she has been a presenter at the prestigious American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting.
She is a Colorado Springs native and happy to be back here with her husband, children, and dog named Aspen.
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What would people be surprised to learn about you?
I am a certified chef.
If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?
Fly. Because, flying.
What is one thing you've learned from students?
They see a future we can't imagine.
What did you want to be growing up?
A day trader on Wall Street. My parents once gave me $100 to invest. I studied the NY Stock Exchange in the Wall Street Journal and made $1,000. I was hooked and even worked in finance for several years.
What draws you to working with students?
Their ingenuity, their flexibility, and their unsurpassed resilience. Their abilities never, ever cease to amaze me.
What is one thing you enjoy about CSS?
The warmth, talent, and expertise of every faculty and staff member I have met.
What is your favorite spot in the world?
Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan. It is serene, untouched, and denotes the magic of this world. (The movie Dune was filmed there.)
