Taylor Thomas is an Instructional Designer at the Alliance, where she consults with partners and teams to transform complex child welfare policy and practice into learning experiences that are engaging, accessible, and meaningful for child welfare professionals and caregivers. She brings a thoughtful, learner-centered approach to the development of eLearning courses and virtual instructor-led training.

Taylor’s path to instructional design began in the classroom. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology before starting her career in K-12 education as a teacher with Dallas ISD. Her drive to make learning more engaging for students inspired her transition into instructional design. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Instructional Design from the University of Texas at Arlington, building a strong foundation in adult learning theory and evidence-based design. She applies principles such as cognitive load theory, multimedia learning, and Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction to create training that aligns with how adults learn. During her graduate studies, she also completed an instructional design internship that put these principles into practice.

Taylor works across the full instructional design process and uses tools such as Articulate Rise and Storyline 360. She is especially committed to accessibility, ensuring that every learner can fully engage with the material.

Outside of work, Taylor enjoys traveling, reading, painting, hiking, and attending concerts.