WARSAW — Combined Community Services’ board of directors has announced the hiring of longtime educator Randy Polston as its new executive director. 

Polston comes to CCS following a four-decade career as a local educator — 34 years with Warsaw Community Schools and eight years at Grace College.

Randy Polston

During his time at WCS, Polston taught elementary school for nine years and served as a principal for 25 years. He also mentored principals through the Department of Education Principal Mentoring program.

Since 2015, he has been mentoring principals in the state of Indiana through the Indiana Administrative Leadership Institute. Polston currently serves as a WCS board member. In his Director of Applied Learning role at Grace College, Polston created and implemented the new Applied Learning program and taught First Year Experience Freshman Foundation classes.

“I have lived my entire life in the Warsaw and Winona Lake area in Kosciusko County,” he said. “The only time I left was to work on my bachelor’s degree at Spring Arbor College in Michigan.  During my college years, my prayer was for God to use me in His plan to help build up His kingdom here on earth. He led me into education. I loved my 34-year career with Warsaw schools, but I felt God separating my heart after year 34. Once again my prayer was to be placed where He needed me. His plan took me to Grace College. After eight years with Grace, building a new program for the Lancers, the door closed. I firmly believe that when a door closes, a new one will open,” Polston said.

“This summer, my prayer was for God to place me and use me where I could make the biggest difference and impact in our community. I love our community and I want to continue giving back. I believe God’s path led me to Combined Community Services. I am so very excited to work with our team at CCS and continue making a difference in the lives of so many,” he said.

Polston is married to Rachael Moser Polston. They have two children, four grandchildren and one foster granddaughter. He and his wife attend Warsaw Community Church.

“We are very excited to welcome Randy to Combined Community Services,” said Abbe Muta, president of the CCS board of directors. “Not only will he bring years of experience in supervision, leadership and culture building, but also his lifelong knowledge of Kosciusko County. Randy’s heart of servitude will be a blessing to CCS.”

Polston received a master of science degree in Administration and Supervision from Indiana University Fort Wayne and a bachelor of arts in Elementary Education from Spring Arbor College. He has served the community through the National Society for Experiential Education, United Way, Joe’s Kids, and the Morning Optimist Club. Other accomplishments include Administrator of the Year, D.A.R.E. Educator of the Year, Indiana Leadership Academy graduate and Kosciusko Leadership Academy graduate, to name a few.