Howard.

The North Tama County Community School District is pleased to announce that North Tama Alumnus Mr. Taylor Howard has accepted the offer to serve as the district’s new 7-12 Principal.

Principal-elect Howard currently serves as a School Administration Manager in the Southeast Polk School District. In this role, Howard manages student behaviors on all of the district’s K-12 bus routes, working with the transportation staff and over 4,000 daily bus riders to maintain a safe, positive transportation experience for the district’s students and families. Under his leadership, the number of behavior referrals on the district’s bus routes have reduced significantly. He leads professional development for the district’s staff of over 55 drivers, and is often called upon to serve as a “principal on duty” in the district’s secondary schools when principals are out of the building.

Howard’s prior experiences include eight years of service as a special education teacher at Southeast Polk, as well as serving as a Model Teacher in the district. He has established innovative programs for at-risk students, and was recognized for his efforts by ABC Channel 5 as a recipient of the “One Classroom at a Time” award. He has been mentored by outstanding educational leaders who have noted that Howard is a results-oriented leader who uses data, goal setting, and other formal processes skillfully in order to reach desired outcomes. He holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Northwestern College and a second Master’s Degree in Special Education from Buena Vista University, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University.

Principal-elect Howard’s wife Mary has been a teacher for eight years in the Southeast Polk School District, working as a K-2 math and reading specialist, fourth grade teacher, and currently as a Junior High Math Teacher. The couple has been married for seven years and has two sons, Beau (3) and Weston (2). The family is actively searching for a new home within the North Tama district and is looking forward to getting involved in the community where Howard was raised!

Pending board approval, Principal-elect Howard will officially begin his duties on or about July 1, 2022 and will begin working full days in the office at the beginning of August.