ESD 112 employees recently engaged in CPR training led by Evan Taylor, a recent graduate of Hockinson High School. Taylor, who graduated in June, owns Taylored Instruction, a business that offers a variety of training classes, including CPR and first aid, lifeguard instruction, basic life support, and water safety.

Taylor’s journey in safety instruction began at the age of 15 when he started working as a lifeguard at the YMCA. His passion for lifeguarding led him to earn his instructor certification. Teaching lifeguard classes was a challenging yet rewarding experience, which motivated Taylor to expand his expertise to become a Red Cross CPR and American Heart Association Basic Life Support instructor.

Evan Taylor, a recent graduate of Hockinson High School, leads CPR training at ESD 112

For Taylor, his classes are more than just a business; he believes in the importance of the skills he’s teaching.

“I hope that anyone taking this class will never have to perform CPR. But having this training is so important,” Taylor said. “Things can go bad so fast, and knowing how to respond to an emergency with confidence will save lives.”

Taylor’s entrepreneurial spirit has been evident since he started his first job at age 11, refereeing soccer games. However, he credits an Excel class with enhancing his business skills.

Taylor has been a student in the Hockinson School District for most of his educational career, but becoming a full-time Running Start student at Clark College allowed him the flexibility to pursue his business venture. This fall, he will attend California Polytechnic State University, where he plans to continue his instructing business.

“It’s been fun to meet all these people through training, and I love the business side of it,” he said. “Running my own business has been a great experience.”