Ashley Gardner, an exceptional teacher at Quinlan ISD, has faced life-altering challenges with remarkable resilience and grace. As a single mother, in 2018 Gardner made one of the most selfless decisions imaginable when she began the life-changing process of adopting Emma, a child battling cancer, through CPS.
“I was determined to do whatever it took to ensure she didn’t have to go through her treatment surrounded by strangers,” Gardner shared. This profound commitment meant stepping away from her teaching career temporarily. “CPS had made it clear they wanted me to be with her virtually around the clock, and I was afraid that if I didn’t, I might lose the chance to keep her with me. I didn’t know how I was going to take care of my family, but I had faith that, somehow, it would all work out—because it had to.”
“Thankfully, my former boss at KFC offered me an opportunity to return with a part-time position. Almost immediately, other incredible things began to happen,” she said. Organizations and individuals throughout the community rallied together to support Gardner’s family during this critical time.
“CASA of Hunt County became one of my deepest sources of comfort,” she said. CASA, or Court-Appointed Special Advocates, is comprised primarily of volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children in the foster care system. According to Gardner, these volunteers and staff offered unwavering support, genuine friendship, and compassion throughout Emma’s journey.
“Without their help—and the help of so many others—I wouldn’t have been able to focus on caring for Emma the way she needed,” said Gardner. Local churches donated furniture, clothing, toys, and comfort items to transform Emma’s room into a true home. “The support was overwhelming and beautiful,” Gardner recalls.
In 2019, Gardner joined the Quinlan ISD family as a teacher while continuing her second job at KFC to make ends meet. Initially, Emma responded well to treatments and showed promising improvement. Tragically, Emma’s cancer returned aggressively, and she lost her battle. The outpouring of love and support during this devastating time was immeasurable.
Since Emma’s passing, Gardner has channeled her grief into giving back to her Quinlan and Greenville communities, becoming a faithful volunteer at QISD events. Last year, Gardner’s boss at KFC informed her about the KFC Foundation grants, where each store can nominate five nonprofit organizations for $10,000 each. She entrusted Gardner with selecting the nominee.
“This year, she gave me all five nominations. I contacted five organizations by phone, email, and in person, offering the opportunity and my help in any way I could so they could apply,” Gardner shared.
Of all the applicants, the KFC Foundation chose to award CASA of Hunt County—a meaningful full-circle moment. Gardner was honored to participate in the check presentation.
Gardner’s teaching career has been exemplary during her time with QISD. Her peers selected her as the Quinlan ISD 2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year. Earlier this year, she earned the Master designation—the highest tier in the Texas Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program—a prestigious achievement that Quinlan ISD Celebrates with pride.
“Ashley is a shining example of the many selfless educators working in our schools. Her love for her family, community, students, and career speaks volumes. In a time of rising inflation and stagnant teacher pay, she persevered through a pandemic, Emma’s cancer, and her eventual death. We know her struggles are real. Quinlan ISD did its part to increase local teacher pay as much as possible and became one of the first public schools in Region 10 to receive TIA funding to financially support teachers in our rural district. We are incredibly proud of Ashley’s resilience and how she has transformed personal challenges into opportunities to serve others. Her actions embody the values we hold dear at Quinlan ISD, and her impact has been a tremendous blessing for our school, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and CASA of Hunt County,” said QISD Superintendent Jeff Irvin.
Quinlan ISD honors Gardner’s servant leadership and celebrates her profound positive impact on the community.