January is school board appreciation month. We will be recognizing each of our board members during the last few weeks of January. For those unaware, serving on the school board is a significant volunteer time commitment. This year has truly highlighted the important role that they play. Decisions affect a lot of people and each of our members carefully considers each issue. We are thankful for their guidance!
Today’s board member is Jen Taylor who joined the school board in 2015. Jen grew up in Iola and graduated from Iola High School. She attended Brigham Young University in Provo, UT, obtaining a degree in humanities and English. Jen is married to Ben Taylor who runs the therapy department at Allen County Hospital. They have 4 kids who have all graduated from, or are currently attending, the Iola School District. Their family moved to Iola in 2000 and love it here!
Jen wanted to join the school board because education is so very important to her. When her kids were in elementary school, she volunteered weekly in each of their classrooms because she felt it was so important to be involved, know their teachers well and know what was going on. As her children got older and moved on to middle school and high school, she turned to other ways to help with the schools, and the school board seemed a good choice.
The passing of the most recent school bond was definitely a highlight of being on the school board! Jen is looking forward to opening the new school and science center!! Attending graduations is also another highlight, she says, “it is great to see the kids and what they have accomplished!”
Some fun facts about Jen are that she loves chocolate chip cookie dough, reading, cooking, riding bikes, hiking and walking on the Lehigh Portland trails, and she loves being with her family! The picture she shares is from her oldest daughter’s wedding at the end of 2020.
Thank you, Jen, for your positivity and presence in our schools. We are grateful for your time, energy, and expertise in serving our school board.
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