My name is Christopher Brett Taylor, but you can call me Brett. I’m a proud father of three school-aged children, and am blessed to reside in the traditional, unceded territory of the Stó:lo people in beautiful Chilliwack, B.C., just minutes away from the picturesque Fraser River. I’m lucky enough to be married to my high school sweetheart Kelly, a teacher as well, and together we have three precocious, loving kids: Ewan, Lleyton and Regan.
Originally I never intended on becoming an educator, and I did not start teaching until I was already in my early thirties. While I initially planned to teach high school history and social studies, I made the choice to volunteer in an inner-city elementary school to gain additional classroom experience, and nearly ten years later, I still haven’t left. I am currently in my eighth year of teaching at Godson Elementary, a challenging but extremely rewarding K-5 school with approximately 375 students. For the first seven years of my time there, I taught predominantly in grade five. This school year however, in conjunction with my studies in the Special Education program at UNBC, I made the transition to being a Learning Support Teacher in the same school. There I manage a caseload of fourteen students in grades four and five with a number of different designations including D ( Physical Disability/Chronic Health Impairment), E (Visual Impairment), G (Autism Spectrum Disorder), K (Mild Intellectual Disability, or MID), and Q (Learning Disability). This, paired with the approximately fifteen students who I provide behavioral support to who have either an R (Moderate Behavior Support) or H (Intensive Behavior/Serious Mental Health) designation, keeps my days busy and challenging, yet highly fulfilling.
As a Caucasian, heterosexual, English-speaking man working in public education, I have become acutely aware of the social privileges that I posses and strive to utilize them positively to aide, assist and advocate for those who do not enjoy the same “entitlements.” In light of that, I am also very cognizant of the potential challenges, roadblocks, and hesitancy that others may have towards my involvement, as many who have preceded me in similar positions and demographics may not have always possessed the most noble, or respectful intentions.
As such, I am honored to be present in the lives of many families who place their trust in me to help grow, develop, and assist their children in a variety of developmental pathways.
