Admin Team
BIOGRAPHY STEVE DISHON, M.ED.
Steve Dishon, 49, became a Titan in 2003. Since that time, Mr. Dishon has taught English Literature, Speech, Composition, WTHS News Station and New Tech
Digi-Com. During his tenure as a teacher, Mr. Dishon also served as the Academic SuperBowl English Coach, where his team won the State Championship in 2012. During this time, Mr. Dishon also coached varsity football and freshman basketball.
In January 2014, Mr. Dishon took over as the high school and middle school athletic director. During that time, Dishon oversaw the construction of Taylor Memorial Stadium’s artificial turf project. In 2018, Mr. Dishon became the high school assistant principal overseeing discipline and the implementation of a Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports program. In the fall of 2020, Mr. Dishon became the Principal of Taylor High School. Mr. Dishon is a 1989 graduate of Kokomo High School. From there he went to Indiana University Bloomington where he majored in English Literature and minored in Tele-Communications. Finally, Mr. Dishon earned his masters in educational leadership from WGU. As the principal of Taylor High School, Mr. Dishon plans to increase student achievement through the aforementioned PBIS program and through implementation of Professional Learning Communities throughout the high school. A PLC program ran with fidelity to the model will support our teachers and target instruction for our students.Mr. Dishon married his 8th grade Math pal, Taylor High School Art Teacher MaryAnne Dishon, in 1996.They love traveling and attending Colts, Blackhawks, and Fuel games. When they retire they plan to live in the hills of Italy. Steve and MaryAnne have two children, Clay and Sistine. Clay will be graduating from Purdue University with a degree in Engineering. Sistine will graduate this year with a degree in Psychology. She plans to go to graduate school and become a school guidance counselor. In his free time, Mr. Dishon hosts a weekly music podcast called Wanderings and Woolgathering. He is also a “Wednesday Warrior,” going to the comic shop every Wednesday to pick up the latest comics. His comics live in the “Nerd Cave.”
Personal Mission
:My personal mission is to support and engage our teachers through creating a building wide professional learning community that uses best practice, curricular alignment and data driven decisions to guide our daily instruction. We will use instructional interventions and behavioral supports to ensure that every child learns to the best of his or her ability.
BIOGRAPHY Renae Adams
Renae Adam's Mission Statement:
BIOGRAPHY Tiffany Longworth-Boruff
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.
BIOGRAPHY 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.
BIOGRAPHY Jacob Leicht
Jacob Leicht serves as Taylor Elemenmtary School Principal at Taylor Schools
Jake Leicht, 29, was appointed as the Taylor Elementary School Principal at Taylor Community School Corporation.
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 9th 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 will now be overseeing the athletic department at Taylor, which is a job that he has long since desired to do.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.
BIOGRAPHY AUDREY L. WUNDERLICH
Mrs. Wunderlich has been a proud Titan alumni and staff member most of her life.
After graduating high school from Taylor with honors in 1999 she attended IndianaUniversity to receive her bachelor’s degree in elementary and middle school educationand Indiana Wesleyan University where she gained her degree in special education.
Mrs. Wunderlich worked as an elementary and middle school teacher before becomingthe director of special education in 2014. Her personal mission in life is to help othersexpand their potential for success as she maximizes her own through dedication,compassion, and positivity.
Mrs. Wunderlich has been married to her husband for 16years, and chooses to send her son to Taylor because she believes in the educationand character that is developed through being a Titan
Audrey Wunderlich's Personal Mission Statement:
My mission in life is to help others expand their potential for success as I maximize my own. Through dedication, compassion, and positivity, I aspire to learn from life experiences and apply that knowledge to make tomorrow even better than today.
BIOGRAPHY 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.
BIOGRAPHY PATRICK H. BERNOTASPatrick 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.