HEATHER HORD

Welcome to the Taylor Middle School web page and thank you for choosing Taylor!

I am the principal at TMS and have been happily serving since July 2008.

We welcome the opportunity to work with you and your student.  I have previously served as a teacher and the athletic director for Taylor Middle and High Schools for one year. All of my educational career has proudly been served as a TITAN! 

I am a graduate of Eastern High School, Indiana Wesleyan University, and Ball State University. My undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, political science, and pre-law and my graduate degree is a Master of Arts in educational administration. My teaching license is would allow me to teach government, United States history, and psychology and I also have a building level administrator license.

Before entering into the educational field I worked as an adult and juvenile probation officer for six years in Grant County, Indiana. I felt the passion to change my career and pursued a teaching license. My main focus is to always do what is fair and right for the students. I work hard every day to push myself and those around me to be better for the students at TMS. My goal is to work with students, parents, and teachers to build a great community and environment at TMS. We want all students to be proud to be a TITAN!

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact the middle school office.

Heather Hord's Personal Mission Statement

My daily mission in life is to find the end of my comfort zone where life truly begins.

Jacob Leicht

Jacob Leicht serves as the Principal of Taylor Elementary School

Jake graduated from Taylor High School in 2009. While at Taylor, he played baseball, basketball, and football for four years. After graduating from Taylor, Jake went on to play college football at Franklin College for two years before eventually transferring to Purdue University. He graduated from Purdue in the summer of 2013 with honors while obtaining his Bachelors in Secondary Education degree. After graduating, Jake went on to teach English at Peru Middle School in Peru, Indiana. While at Peru, he was a Varsity football and basketball assistant coach. After one year at Peru, Jake decided to come home to Taylor High School where he accepted a job as the 9^th grade English teacher in 2014. After one year in the high school, Jake moved to the middle school where he served as an English teacher for the past four years. He was the head of the English department during the 2018-2019 school year. During his last four years at Taylor, Jake coached Varsity football and basketball. He was hired as the boys’ Varsity basketball coach in May of 2016. Jake was the Athletic Director before accepting the TES Principal's position.

Jacob Leicht's Personal Mission Statement

My personal mission is to give our students at Taylor the best possible opportunity to succeed in the classroom and on the sports’ field. I love coming to work every single day knowing that I will have a positive impact on our students. I want to help make Taylor Community School Corporation the premier school system in Howard County through hard work, dedication, and integrity.

Hello Titan Nation,

My name is Brandon Gleason and I am honored to be the principal at Taylor High School.  Here at Taylor, we are dedicated to fostering a positive and challenging learning environment for all of our students. 

We are focused on academic excellence, student growth, creating a supportive school culture, and expecting the best from our students as well as our staff.

We are committed to maintaining these high expectations through communication, continuous improvement, and teamwork within our community.  

At the high school, you will constantly hear me say, as well as Mr. Moon (assistant principal) "What we ignore, we encourage!"  

As for me personally, I was born in Pennsylvania but I grew up in Minnesota.  Growing up in Minnesota, I naturally was and still am a big hockey fan.  

I earned my undergrad degree from Hamline University in 2009, earned my M.S. from Purdue University in 2020, and lastly earned my M.Ed. from Indiana State University in 2023.

Fun fact about me...I am a huge coffee drinker so instead of me writing more about myself, please stop in my office for a coffee and let's chat about how we can continue to grow and push Taylor High School to new heights!

Thanks,

Brandon Gleason

Tiffany Boruff serves as Director of School Counseling for Taylor High School in Kokomo, Indiana since June 2017.

Prior to her appointment as Director of School Counseling, Ms. Boruff worked as a Program Director at the Kokomo YMCA. In this role, she successfully implemented a nationally recognized youth mentoring program serving at-risk youth in Howard County. Tiffany brings to the position five years of experience working as a School Counselor at Peru High School.  She brings valuable experience to Taylor Schools in the areas of test coordination and program implementation, as well as counseling skills, in the areas of academic, college, career, and personal counseling.  She is passionate about fostering relationships and developing meaningful connections with at-risk youth as a way to best support each student’s individual needs. 

Ms. Boruff is actively involved in the community by serving as a volunteer for community organizations such as Kokomo Urban Outreach, Family Services Association, Howard County Mentoring Coalition, and Open Arms Women’s Shelter.  She is also an active member of Prevent Child Abuse Church Committee, Howard County Mentoring Coalition, and the Indiana School Counselor Association.

Tiffany was fortunate to earn a full ride athletic scholarship to Pennsylvania State University, where she played collegiate basketball and earned a Bachelor degree in Social Work.  She went on to receive a master's degree in School Counseling from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis.  Tiffany was honored as the first female athlete inducted into the Howard County Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.  She continues to hold the all-time leading scoring record, including boys and girls, for the most points scored in a high school career in Howard County.

Tiffany is very proud of her personal and professional accomplishments, but is quick to acknowledge that her most treasured possessions won’t be found on a wall in her office or on the hardwood gymnasium floor.  Her most significant role is that of a mother to her two children, Taylor and Cole.  They are truly what bring her the most joy in life. 

Tiffany Boruff's Personal Mission Statement:

My personal mission is to live a balanced life, to always lead by example, and to welcome life’s challenges as an opportunity to learn and grow. Honesty, integrity, dependability, tolerance, and teamwork are qualities I value dearly. My personal mission is to act as an instrument of positive change in my family, my work, and my community. I will utilize all of the talents that God has given me and will participate in all aspects of my life with energy, purpose and gratitude. I believe all students have the ability to learn and succeed with faithful and continuous nurturing, guidance, and support. As a school counselor, I am driven to motivate and empower students by providing a safe and secure environment to support them socially, emotionally, and cognitively, to build a foundation for life-long learning. My most significant role, however, is that of a mother. I strive to raise my children to be respectful, confident, happy, healthy and well-adjusted young adults.

PAULA BOLIN
 

Paula Bolin was appointed as the food service director of Taylor Community Schools in 2016

Mrs. Bolin has been a part of the Taylor family most of her life. She is a 1985 Titan Alumni. She began working in the food service department in 1999. After working many different positions within the department, she was named Food Service Director in 2016. Mrs.Bolin is married and has 3 children and 4 beautiful grandchildren. She is very passionate about Taylor Schools and the growth and well being of our students.

Paula Bolin's Personal Mission Statement:

My mission in life is to always be kind to others and to always remember that you never know what someone else may be dealing with in their own personal  life. I strive to be the best leader that I can be not only to my staff but also my children and grandchildren.

Renae Adams came to Taylor Community School Corporation as the Business Manager/Treasurer in 2021.

Renae Adams was born and raised in Kokomo Indiana. Renae graduated from Kokomo High School in 2001. She went to Indiana University of Kokomo and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management/Human Resources and Marketing in 2004.  Renae is a proud mother of two children, Regan and Everett, and proud wife to Matt Adams.  

Renae loves watching and cheering on her kids at their sporting events. She volunteers with several Non-Profit groups in her free time.  Renae is very family oriented and make her large family a top priority.  Renae is always smiling and sharing her loud laugh with anyone around her. 

Personal Mission Statement:

My mission in life is be an effective leader by leading my example, both in my personal and professional life. One of my goals is to always work towards a well-balanced work/life balance. I feel that honesty, integrity, compassionate to others, positive outlook, and dependability are values I can bring to any team I am involved with. I also feel that I am always open and willing to always learn from others. My goal at Taylor Community School Corporation is to be the best steward of the funds used to operate all the many different areas of a school corporation.

Matt Ward

I graduated from Lewis Cass Junior Senior high school in 2002. I started an electrical apprenticeship program with Dilling Group Inc. and the Associated Builders and Contractors Indiana chapter in 2006 and completed that program in 2010 with highest GPA honors in my class. During that same time frame I attended Vincennes University online and completed an Associates of Applied science degree with magna cum laude honors. I have worked in the electrical and industrial industry most of my career with a very heavy emphasis on industrial wiring and control work. I enjoy working with my hands and being mobile throughout the day, and looking forward to a long and exciting career with Taylor Community School Corporation and will do my best to keep the facilities operating in optimum condition.

PATRICK H. BERNOTAS

Patrick H. Bernotas is the Technology Director of Taylor Community Schools in Kokomo, Indiana

Mr. Bernotas came to Taylor as the School Corporation’s first Technology Director. His main job was to develop a 5 year Technology Plan and start Taylor Schools down a dynamic High Tech future. A strong foundation of highly trained staff, cutting edge infrastructure and robust technology hardware got the school operating in a digital rich environment. Mr. Bernotas’ current responsibilities have been expanded to manage Federal and State reporting, network services such as telephone, computer, projectors, security systems as well as a competent Tech Team.

Mr. Bernotas is a retired Federal Firefighter of thirty years. This experience has given him the management skills needed to lead and develop the Technology Team and Plan for the Taylor Community School Corporation. He worked part time as Technology Director until retiring from Federal service in 2010. Mr. Bernotas is happily married with 3 children and 5 grand children.

Mr. Bernotas’ educational background includes degree in Emergency Management from Community College of the Air Force and Federal Management studies at Texas A&M. Mr. Bernotas served as board member of Air Force Training Committee. He is certified as Homeland Security/FEMA instructor for National Incident Management System (NIMS) as well as adjunct instructor for Ivy Tech. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and a Certified Apple Developer.

Mr. Bernotas has a total of 23 years’ experience in public education (K-12). His strengths include, but are not limited to: skilled manager of programs and personnel, integration of technology in a learning setting, decision making skills based on best practices , and willingness to listen and implement team decisions.

Mr. Bernotas is a loyal employee, dedicated to advancement of the Taylor Community School Corporation’s mission and goals. He believes in student life long learning and individual character development and is proud be a part of this process.

Pat Bernotas' Personal Mission Statement

My life’s mission is to become an example of all my beliefs. I want to demonstrate everything I have learned in my short life with patience and understanding. I will continue as a lifelong learner and always make myself available and open to “catch” life lessons. I strive to know Christ and make him known.  My family is my passion and my Community is my service.