Madison Taylor Sides

English Teacher at South Rowan High School

Native of Rowan County

Industry: Education

Madison Taylor Sides says that the Rowan Salisbury Schools’ Renewal Plan to re-envision schools sets her home county apart. RSS is the state’s only Renewal School System, with a commitment to redesign education to create authentic and personalized learning experiences for students through teacher-led flexibility in curriculum, budgeting, hiring, staffing, and scheduling.

“Public education is working to re-envision education that is best for all students,” says Madison, a high school English teacher. She says the county is “trying very hard to maintain relevance in a fast-paced world.”

She is a Catawba College graduate with an undergraduate degree in literature, secondary education, and communications and a master’s degree from UNC-Charlotte in education. She attended South Rowan High School herself and came back to teach.

She grew up in Landis, the daughter of Donna and David Sides. Married to Garrett Sides, she and her husband have a dog, Luna, and a cat, Merlyn. 

“Rowan County is home. Not in the sense of living space, but a communal space that is full of love and authenticity,” she says. “Rowan County is an area where people embrace the land, talent, and community as a whole. Rowan County is inclusive, and we welcome anyone who is interested in joining the fun of life.” 

Madison works with the Young Life organization and is a member of First Reformed Church of Landis. 

The county image, Be an Original,™ means “to be authentically involved in your community, embracing your surroundings by utilizing the talents and resources to live a full life,” she says.

Her favorite restaurant is Yosties in Faith. “I love the fact that it is not a chain. They found something that they are really good at, and they do it well. The people have a smile on their faces. The chili and homemade bread and pepperoni rolls are great.” 

“It is always rewarding to see people I know thriving in a place I love,” she says.   

Lake Corriher Wilderness Area in Landis is a favorite outdoor spot. Madison likes the trails and the view of the lake and the many activities – fishing, kayaking, paddle boats. With its cabin rentals, she calls it “a super quaint place for a staycation.”

Her love of music makes Pops at The Post by the Salisbury Symphony a favorite event. “I love seeing the talent that we have in the area. It’s a free event for people of all age groups,” she says. As a teen-ager, a favorite event was the Rowan County Fair. In college, when she was an intern for Downtown Salisbury, Inc., a favorite event was College Night Out, which Downtown Salisbury organized for students at the four colleges in Rowan County.

For newcomers in town, she would steer them in the direction of the community theaters – Lee Street Theatre, The Meroney and The Novell. She would tell them to see a performance and witness the local talent.  

She says Rowan County’s welcoming nature makes it a place where people can always come home. “I think the authentic commitment to Rowan County is like nowhere else,” she says. “People may venture away for a short time, but they always tend to come home and give back locally. That is extremely special.”