Today Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker surprised another group of teachers hand-delivering the Spring 2024 round of Impact Awards. With the help of Penn Principal Dr. Sean Galiher and Schmucker Principal Sarah Smith, Dr. Thacker handed out three awards (two at Penn and one at Schmucker). Click to see the full photo gallery below.
This round of P-H-M Impact Awards recognizes teachers with First Semester growth. While all P-H-M teachers across the district are dedicated to helping their students achieve personal academic success, the Impact Award shines the spotlight on educators who have helped their students achieve individual academic growth on their formative assessments over time. The first-ever Impact Awards were handed out in September 2023 and recognized the teachers with the most significant overall student growth during the 2022-2023 school year.
Penn High School Economics teacher Mr. Pete Riordan teaches both AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics. During the 2022-2023 school year, both courses increased slightly in enrollment while simultaneously boasting large increases in achievement. Students in AP courses take standardized exams at the end of the school year designed to measure how well they’ve mastered the content and skills of the course. The final score for each AP Exam is reported on a 5-point scale that offers a recommendation about how qualified a student is to receive college credit or placement, but each college makes its own decisions. In general, a score of three or higher results in credit or placement.
In Mr. Riordan's Microeconomics course, students earning a three or better jumped from 58.7% in 2022 to 70.8% in 2023. Likewise, in Macroeconomics, 80% of students earned a three or higher, an increase of 20.9%, and the highest pass rate for the course in Penn High School history! Not bad for Riordan who is also the Kingsmen Football Team’s Defensive Coordinator.
From Coach Riordan’s classroom, Principal Galiher took Dr. Thacker and Penn administrators down the hall to drop-in on Mrs. Jenny Dakins who teaches Learning Strategies, which are classes designed to support student success and academic growth. Dakins teaches multiple blocks of the class and at mid semester 68% of her students' grades were on track. This percentage improved to 92% by the end of the semester. Dakins’ student growth is a result of her dedication to supporting students and meeting with them individually to ensure academic success for every student. Her compassion, support and love for her students is reflected in their growth.
Dr. Thacker then headed across the street to Schmucker Middle School where he enlisted the help of Principal Smith to surprise 6th grade Langage Arts teacher Mrs. Joy Lightcap. Principal Smith even got Mrs. Lightcap’s 8th grade daughter Noelle in on the fun. Mrs. Lightcap had the highest reading growth at Schmucker; her students grew 36% in proficiency!
Executive Director of the P-H-M Education Foundation Jen Turnblom was present for this morning’s awards. P-H-M is grateful to the Education Foundation for covering the cost of the awards for these amazing teachers.
