“Mini Mr. Taylor changed my life and all of my acting skills,” said sophomore Liam Sheridan, who after a long dress rehearsal for last year’s fall show, received notes from a puppet modeled after his director, Mr. Jack Taylor.
Taylor joined the Lake Forest High School staff in August of 2023, though only a select few students might know him.
Taylor works at West Campus as a teaching assistant for one of the transition programs, which entails assisting students with special needs through various goals, such as coaching students through job sites—where they complete different tasks such as filling out a resumé—and creating products to sell at the Lake Bluff Farmers Market. Taylor also coaches Special Olympics over at West campus.
“[Directing] gives me the opportunity to come to the main campus and work with the theater kids, which is a lot of fun,” Taylor said.
Taylor is working alongside Mrs. Dreiling in directing One Stoplight Town, this year’s fall show, as well as student director, senior Carina DiVito.
“Mr. Taylor is amazing at maintaining a fun and friendly environment, while also making sure that we keep an end goal in sight,” DiVito said.
Although Taylor only joined the LFHS theater community last year, he has already made a lasting impact on the people involved.
“He brings in fun games for us to try that help us grow as a group,” DiVito said. “Having someone there to help has really shown its benefits, like in Mr. Taylor’s own creative visions that he brings to the scenes.”
Taylor doesn’t just bring a different vision, he also introduces different ways to make the cast laugh.
“He brought in a ventriloquist doll of himself for a whole rehearsal and just talked through it, it was really, really funny.” DiVito said. “Mr. Taylor also always understands the references that we make and keeps up with the different jokes we are using.”
Taylor’s days are busy: from working at the transition programs during the day, to coaching Special Olympics, to co-directing a show.
Courtesy of Mr. Taylor
“The days that I get to go to rehearsal are definitely the best, because I know my day will be filled with laughs and a great time overall,” Taylor said. “It’s just going from a great group of people to another great group of people in the same day.”
During the day at West campus, Taylor aids students in the transition program with completing various tasks—when Taylor isn’t at an after-school rehearsal, he is coaching bocce ball, basketball, and track and field at Special Olympics.
Taylor’s dedication to the people involved in Special Olympics does not go unnoticed by the club’s members. Nora Sharman, a member of Special Olympics, calls Taylor’s energy “infectious”.
“He really helps the team at practice,” Sharman said. “But, he also makes sure that everyone has fun and is joking around.”
Taylor’s drive and hard-working attitude is apparent in his coaching.
“Everyone loves Mr. Taylor. He pushes everyone to their own limit, and the students actually end up doing what they need to do. He knows the students so well,” senior and Special Olympics member Rayanne Attar said.
Though his weeks are busy, Taylor has found a way to create a lasting impact on different communities—both at West and East campus.
“Everyday is fulfilling,” Taylor said. “I get to work with some really awesome people, including all the other staff. It’s really fulfilling to see my students complete their tasks…it’s so rewarding to see them do independent work.”
