Dr. Teresa Taylor serves as Director of Student Access and Opportunity Division for Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). The team provides leadership and support for school and district efforts focused on equitable opportunities and outcomes for all of Minnesota’s students. This work includes state and federal accountability efforts (including Minnesota’s new system under the Every Student Succeeds Act) and district strategic planning and continuous improvement processes (including the World’s Best Workforce legislation). Prior to joining MDE, Dr. Taylor served in higher education as the executive director of Culturally Responsive Engagement, where she provided leadership that focused on bridging equity gaps that exist throughout schools, organizations and communities. Passionate about empowering others through education, she has taught a variety of courses, from preparing preservice teachers for K-12 licensure to instructing doctoral candidates for educational leadership roles. A teacher at heart, Dr. Taylor has also served as a classroom teacher in K-12 public education, teaching general education topics for over 10 years. Dr. Taylor is a proud graduate of Minneapolis Public Schools. She holds degrees from three Minnesota universities, including: Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul; Master of Arts in Education (and Collaborative Urban Educator certificate) from University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis; and, Doctor of Education in Leadership, Dissertation Title, “From Aware to Action: A Case Study of the Lived Experiences of Teachers Implementing Culturally Responsive Teaching,” from Bethel University, St. Paul.