Why Tacos?

The Taco Task story began in a classroom.

When I first started teaching a group of high school students, I had been warned ahead of time that the class might be difficult. Several students had already been labeled as behavior problems or distractions. I was told to expect interruptions and attitude.

So on the first day, I did something simple. I asked the students to introduce themselves and tell me what they wanted to be when they grew up.

Most of the answers were what you’d expect.

Athlete. Mechanic. Welder. Influencer. Electrician.

Then one student said something different.

He announced, very confidently, that he wanted to be a burrito.

You could feel the room pause. The student clearly expected resistance. He expected the usual reaction — eye rolls, discipline, or being told to take things seriously.

Instead, I leaned in.

“A burrito? That’s a fantastic idea,” I said.

We started exploring it.

Would this burrito be a costume?
Would it be an actual burrito?
What kind of tortilla would be best for a career in burrito excellence?
Would a taco be a good alternative career path?

The class burst into laughter. But something important happened in that moment.

The students realized something.

Their ideas were welcome.

Their creativity wasn’t going to get them in trouble. It was going to be explored. Celebrated. Built on.

From that day forward, that class became incredibly focused and productive. The students knew that every idea, every question, and every perspective would be taken seriously. They didn’t have to shut down their personalities to succeed.

Instead, they could bring their full creativity to the table.

And when students feel safe to think differently, something amazing happens:

They get on task.

The joke about burritos turned into a running theme in the class. Eventually tacos joined the conversation too.

And before long, a phrase emerged that perfectly captured the spirit of the classroom:

Taco Task.

A reminder that creativity and discipline are not opposites. In fact, the best learning environments make room for both.

Taco Task now celebrates the students who take initiative, finish what they start, and bring their own unique flavor to the work in front of them.

Because sometimes the best way to get students on task…
is to start with a taco.

Thank you for your nominations!

Angela, Founder