Mr. Tyler Harr
KJHS Band Director

Mr. Harr teaches 5th-8th grade band at Kingsley Jr. High School and is beginning his fourth year as part of the Unit 5 Music Program. At KJHS Mr. Harr also directs extra curricular groups in jazz and chamber music programs. Throughout his teaching career, Mr. Harr has taught K-12 band, choir, and general music- but Jr. High band is the best!

Mr. Harr grew up in the Bloomington-Normal Area, and went through Unit 5 Schools. He has a bachelors in Music Education from Eastern Illinois University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University.  He hopes to bring a fast-paced, fun environment perfect for learning and growing- we will all make mistakes, but that is the best way to learn new things. 

In his free time, Mr. Harr is also actively involved in community theatre as an actor/singer, pianist, and music director. He also loves to play  trombone and bassoon throughout the community. 

Contact Mr. Harr at
​[email protected]

Contact Mr. Borst at [email protected]

Mr. Alex Borst
5th Grade Band

Mr. Borst has taught Kindergarten-5th grade elementary music at Glenn and Fox Creek Elementary Schools and beginning band at Kingsley Jr. High for the last six years. He has also directed the Chiddix Jr. High Jazz Band for the last eight years. Before joining the Unit 5 school district, Mr. Borst taught band for 16 years at the middle school and high school levels in both the Peoria and St. Louis Public Schools. 

Mr. Borst is also an active musician in the Normal and Peoria areas. Some of the organizations he performs with are the Peoria Municipal Band, Brass Band of Central Illinois, Peoria Players Theater, Cornstock Theater, and many others. 

Mr. Borst grew up in Jefferson City, MO. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Central Methodist College and a Masters of Music from the University of Kansas. He currently resides in Normal with his wife and three children.

Mrs. Katie Winchester 
5th Grade Band

Katie Winchester is the 6th-8th grade chorus teacher at Kingsley, and is thrilled to be joining the 5th grade band team again for the 2025-2026 school year. Ms. Winchester has been teaching in Unit 5 for 10 years, and in that time has taught K-12, a cappella, honor choirs, and more. 
​
Ms. Winchester grew up in Orlando, Florida, and Orland Park, Illinois. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, and she is excited to begin her master's studies this fall at Illinois State University.
In her free time, Ms. Winchester enjoys hiking, gardening, reading, cooking, and sharing delicious meals with close friends. She currently resides in Bloomington with her husband and their Yorkie, Luna.

Contact Mrs. Winchester at winchek@unit5.org