O.C. Taylor Elementary School

I am super excited to begin my journey at O.C. Taylor this school year! I just finished my 8th year teaching and have spent the past 4 years in Carroll ISD teaching 5th grade math. I grew up in Bedford and married my high school sweetheart, Kyle. We have two wonderful sons, Hunter (4) and Cooper (1) who make me so proud each and every day. We have two border collies and a cat who thinks he’s also a dog. I love to spend time with my family, bake sweet treats, play games, and do crafty projects for my house. Every fall we spend our weekends watching football, wearing orange, and cheering on our OSU Cowboys! My oldest will be joining me at O.C. Taylor in PreK, and we are both looking forward to being a part of the O.C. Taylor family!

I am a recent graduate of Oklahoma State University. I was also fortunate to graduate from GCISD schools, having attended Silver Lake Elementary, Heritage Middle, and Colleyville Heritage High School. I have very fond memories of my elementary years, and I am excited to create those same experiences for my own students! While at OSU, I was blessed to student teach in a second grade classroom and cannot wait to meet the future O.C. Taylor second graders. In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and friends. The beach is my happy place. I also enjoy watching sports with my dad! I look forward to meeting you and working alongside you this school year!

My name is Alli Gray and I have been a Speech-Language Pathologist for 7 years. I am currently serving at Bransford Elementary but will also be helping at O.C. Taylor this year. I have worked with kids and adults across my career, most recently working in the medical setting. I started working for GCISD in January and have loved it so far! What I love most about my job is helping others and collaborating with other professionals! I am from Houston (GO ASTROS!) but have lived in DFW for the past 5 years. I am a former Kilgore College Rangerette, 71st Line. I received my bachelor’s degree from UT Austin and my master’s degree from UT Dallas. I have been married to my husband, Austin, for 9 years. We have 2 sons, Case is 3 years old and Cameron is 3 months old.

In an effort to safely and efficiently prepare for Meet the Teacher on Friday, August 11, 2023, please complete this Google form, linked below, by Wednesday, August 9th at midnight. Be sure and bring your driver's license with you to check in at the check-in table (tables will be located in the front school vestibule). You will also receive a wristband upon checking in for added security. If visitors do not fill this out, they will have to check in with their driver's license at the Raptor System kiosk in the front lobby of the school and receive a security sticker. Please send this form to any family members to fill out so you can check in quickly! https://forms.gle/w993BPcAm3Sz5EG76

Dear Incoming Pre-K and Kindergarten Families, Welcome to OCT! The teachers and staff are excited to meet all incoming Pre-K and Kindergarten families at our annual Pre-K and Kinder Camp on Monday, August 7 from 3:30-5:00! The parents will have the opportunity to meet the staff and hear from our principal, Mr. Schilleci, about O.C. Taylor! During that time, students will get to visit the classrooms with the teachers. Parents will also have the opportunity to buy school supply packs and visit our Spirit Shop. Afterward, there will be popcorn on the playground with PTA! We hope everyone is able to attend! Tiger Pride, OCT Staff

Interested in joining our #OCTAllStars Team this year?? We would love to visit with you about the opportunity to join our incredible staff and community for the 23-24 school year. Please visit https://grapevinecolleyville.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=3966 for more info.

Welcome, Michael Schilleci, new Principal of O.C. Taylor Elementary School. Schilleci was an Assistant Principal of Cross Timbers Middle School, where he also taught eighth grade English and Literacy Achievement and coached boys athletics for five years before becoming a campus administrator. Prior to joining GCISD, Schilleci taught English and math at Liberty Christian Middle School. His leadership involvement includes identifying and mentoring rising leaders among the CTMS staff, training in the N2 Learning Assistant Principal Learning Institute, creating the CTMS Portrait of a Pack Member, and serving as Curriculum Management Planning Committee and ELA Department Learning Leader. “I am truly humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve such an amazing staff, students, and school community with an incredible reputation,” Schilleci said. “I am excited to begin building relationships and continue the remarkable work that they have done as we welcome our students back for a great 2023-2024 school year!” Schilleci has attended the University of North Texas, earning his Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, and is also a Doctoral Candidate in Educational Leadership at UNT.

2nd/3rd Curriculum Night, August 24, 5:15 - 6:15pm 4th/5th Curriculum Night, August 24, 6:30 - 7:30pm

Pre-K/Kinder/1st Curriculum Night August 22, 6:30 - 7:30

Meet the Teacher will be August 11th. If your last name begins with (A-L), please come at 4:00 - 4:30 and last names beginning (M-Z) will be from 4:30 - 5:00. Please follow the time breakdown below, if possible, to assist with parking. Students and families will get to meet the teacher, drop off supplies, and connect with our O.C. Taylor community. *If your child is unable to attend, no worries! Send supplies the first day of school.

I am so excited to be joining your amazing school this year! This will be my 7th year of teaching. I have previously taught 4th and 5th grade.This will be my fourth year in GCISD. I spent the last 3 years at Grapevine Elementary School as a 4th grade teacher. After staying home with my little girl, I rejoined the world of teaching when schools needed their teachers most in 2020. It was a year that I certainly grew and stretched and I am glad that I did it. I was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas and I am a Red Raider fan, through and through. I would love to say that I graduated from my hometown’s university, but life took me elsewhere! I am a graduate of UTA with a bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies. I went on to get my alternative teaching certificate through Texas Teachers. My husband and I will celebrate our 19th year of marriage this year. We have 3 sweet and beautiful children. I have 2 boys that attended all of their elementary years at OC Taylor and are now CMS colts and 1 little girl that is 5.5 years old going on 16! Haha! She will be an OC Taylor Tiger this year in kindergarten. I love to cook and bake. I make A LOT of things from scratch. I love all kinds of artsy and crafty things. It is definitely my outlet and I love to be creative. I can't wait to be a part of your sweet campus! It is going to be a great year ahead.

Our school has been named the 2021-2023 National PTA School of Excellence, and we were presented with a banner for us to hang at our school! I am so proud of the work our PTA has done to receive this well-deserved designation. School of Excellence is a recognition program that supports and celebrates partnerships between schools and families to enrich the educational experience and overall well-being of all students. O.C. Taylor PTA is one of only 242 PTAs nationwide to be designated a 2021-2023 National PTA School of Excellence.

Congratulations to the teacher selected to represent OCT as our Teacher of the Year at the district level, Kari Griffith! Congratulations to Gabby Garcia selected to represent OCT as our Paraprofessional of the Year at the district level.

Please tell your neighbor and friends who have incoming PreK and/or Kindergarten students about our upcoming OCT PreK/Kinder Camp, Monday, August 7, 2023, 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. We will share why school is "smore" fun at O.C. Taylor while your little tiger goes on a classroom tour! Order your school supply packs now! www.educationalproducts.com/shoppacks School ID: TAY009 O.C. Taylor's Spirit Shop will be open!!!