5 Questions with Taylor Marsho
Taylor Marsho recently joined the Grinnell College community as an educator at Grinnell College Preschool, where she brings her passion for early childhood education to life. Marsho lives in Grinnell with her husband, Dr. Peter Marsho '12, a dog, and two children — Rory, 3, who is currently in one of her preschool classes and Archie, 1, who will join her class in a few years. We caught up with her to learn more about her journey (back) to Grinnell.
Q: What can you tell us about your life in Grinnell?
A: My family moved to Grinnell from Des Moines when I was 7, so most of my childhood was spent in Grinnell. It’s a place that feels like home to me. My husband, Peter, and I met in Grinnell. He graduated from Grinnell High School in ’08 and Grinnell College in ’12. I graduated from Grinnell High School in ’12 and UNI in ’16. When my husband and I began searching for a community to build a life in, we found that no other place could provide all that Grinnell has to offer. We visited a few other places but ultimately decided Grinnell was right for us! We moved back to Grinnell in 2017, married in ’18 and have since added a dog and our two children. We are lucky to be surrounded with many other family members in the community, which is an added bonus.
Q: What does your role at the College entail?
A: I am a lead teacher at the Grinnell College Preschool. We provide a high-quality education experience to students between the ages of 3-5. We are also closely connected with the families and work to support them however we can. I have a passion for early childhood education, having worked with kindergarten for seven years and now preschool. Specifically, I enjoy focusing on developmentally appropriate education that is centered around children’s interests. This involves spending a lot of time getting to know each child and their family and creating a curriculum that involves them.
Q: What has your experience been like working with Grinnellians?
A: Having grown up in Grinnell, I have always been so appreciative of the Grinnell College community and all that it provides for our town. As a new member of the Grinnell College team, it has been wonderful to experience the pride those that work for the college have for the college as well as the community.
Q: What are your interests outside of teaching?
A: Personally, I really enjoy reading, hosting friends and family, music, traveling and trying new restaurants. Our family has found a love for the beach and spent a lot of time this summer at various beaches. I have visited many national parks and love so many of them, but my number one favorite is Zion National Park in Utah. There is something about the beauty of the red rocks that fills my cup. One of my favorite hikes at Zion is the Narrows. It is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. A lot of my free time goes into taking the kids to activities like soccer, gymnastics, and music classes. We really enjoy the Music Together class at the Grinnell School of Music; music brings so much joy into our lives! I would love to encourage community members to look at the classes currently being offered and find something to try! We are so lucky to have such an amazing resource in our town – I really hope everyone can take advantage of it!
Q. What has been your favorite Grinnell moment?
A: Having spent most of my life in Grinnell, I have so many! But a recent memory that sticks out was getting to enjoy Music in the Park with my family and many other Grinnellians. Watching my children play at the beautiful Central Park, while my husband and I enjoyed great music and connected with friends, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, how lucky are we?”