Taylor Adame, the Region 12 Secondary Teacher of the Year, has been named one of six finalists for the Texas Association of School Administrators 2026 Texas Teacher of the Year. Adame was selected to represent the region by a committee of area educators after being named Waco ISD's Secondary Teacher of the Year.

“Mrs. Adame leads with purpose and heart, creating a classroom where students see the relevance of history in their own lives,” said Dr. Kenny Berry, Executive Director of Education Service Center Region 12. “Her ability to connect learning with the real world fosters confidence, inspires civic responsibility, and helps students envision a future full of possibility and purpose.”

Adame has taught U.S. History at Waco High School since 2020 and has served as the Social Studies Department Head since 2022. Adame has been in education for ten years, previously serving for four years at another Waco ISD campus and one year in Duncanville ISD. 

“At Waco High School, Taylor Adame’s student-centered leadership is transforming lives and inspiring success, demonstrating the profound impact of an invested educator,” said Dr. Tiffany Spicer, Superintendent of Waco ISD. “We couldn’t be more proud of this outstanding teacher. This recognition is a testament to the exceptional work our educators are doing every day and a powerful example of how Wisdom Works Wonders across our district.”

Adame is passionate about connecting historical events to contemporary issues, and encourages her students to analyze the past to apply its lessons to the present. She hopes that her classroom is where history shifts into action and empowers her students to shape their community. Outside of teaching, Adame strives to establish a school culture where every student is seen, supported and valued. She knows that just because a student is not on her roster doesn’t mean they are not in her reach, and works to help build better futures for the students of Waco High School.

Adame works to maintain an inclusive classroom that connects historical events to students’ lives and shows them how choices shape the future. She urges her students to move beyond intellectual comprehension and into emotional understanding by sharing primary sources and examples of the events they are learning. For example, after Adame taught her students about the Greensboro sit-ins, she asked them if they would participate in the protests. Most of her students confidently said they would, but Adame didn’t end the lesson there. Next, she showed them a scene from “The Butler” that depicted the reality of the sit-ins, and asked her students again if they would participate. After watching the scene, students truly understood the courage it took to participate, and confidence gave way to reflection on how doing the right thing isn’t always easy. Learning moments like that one help Adame’s students reach beyond the content to transform history from something static to something memorable. 

Adame knew that to be a successful teacher at Waco High School, she needed to understand and engage with students from diverse backgrounds and abilities. Adame chooses to teach on-level or inclusion classes, which truly reflect the school's demographics, because she hopes to uplift marginalized voices and not allow statistics to limit her students’ potential. Additionally, Adame noticed how support often centers around high achievers and students needing intervention, and felt motivated to ensure all students’ needs are met with compassionate presence. To better support students, Adame has advocated for culturally relevant curriculum, small-group instructional support and a school culture where every student feels seen. She gathered student feedback, collaborated with multiple campus teams, and researched models at districts similar to Waco ISD to help build a learning environment where all students are supported with intention. Adame’s efforts have had a positive impact, leading to English learners connecting more with instruction, students in the middle showing growth and hesitant students becoming empowered to speak up. 

Outside of her classroom, Adame strives to build community at Waco High School, and supports multiple initiatives that impact students all over the school. One of these initiatives is Link Crew, a student-led mentorship program that helps freshmen acclimate to high school. Rising seniors act as mentors for small groups of freshmen to help them feel safe and welcomed in a school as complex as Waco High School. Adame worked with educators from all departments to recruit a wide variety of seniors so that all freshmen members can see pieces of themselves in their mentors. Link Crew has helped freshmen feel more confident and supported while navigating high school and has helped seniors learn how to lead with humility, speak with purpose and serve without needing recognition. Through Link Crew, Adame has helped create a school culture where students find community across divides and care for one another.

Adame also works to connect Waco High School students to the community beyond the walls of the school. She believes that learning should act as an avenue to launch students into the real world to find where they belong. Adame is always looking for ways to create direct pathways for students to connect and begin contributing to the community around them. One way Adame does this is through an initiative called Navegando, which is designed to support Spanish-speaking students new to the Waco area. Students experience tours of local colleges in Spanish, connect with Hispanic leaders from various professions, and get their first glimpse into the post-secondary opportunities available to them. Through Navegando, Adame has helped students find role models, foster connections and believe in a future within reach.

Adame earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from McMurry University and has a Social Studies (7-12) certification. She is a member of the Association of Texas Professional Educators and the Texas Council for the Social Studies. Adame has received multiple awards from Waco ISD since joining the district, including the Lead From the Heart Award in 2024 and the Invaluable Treasure Award in 2023.

TASA’s Teacher of the Year program judges will interview the six finalists on October 16 and will name the 2026 Texas Elementary Teacher of the Year and 2026 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year on October 17. One of the state-level winners will be designated as the 2026 Texas Teacher of the Year and will move on to represent Texas in the National Teacher of the Year program. ESC Region 12 and Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, the Region 12 Educators of the Year program sponsor, will recognize Adame and other regional educators of the year in the coming months.