Fifth graders from across the district visited Penn High School this week for the annual Elementary Pops Concert, an energetic introduction to available instrument options ahead of Instrument Selection Night.

Members of the Penn Orchestra took the stage to perform well-known, crowd-pleasing songs. The performance was designed to spark excitement about music and give students a firsthand look at the kinds of ensembles they could join in middle school and beyond.

At one point, Penn musicians lined the front of the stage to demonstrate the various instruments available to beginning students in sixth grade, including strings, woodwinds, and brass. Students were able to see, hear, and compare each instrument as they consider both orchestra and band options in middle school.

The concert also featured two memorable special moments. Assistant Orchestra Director Ashlyn Graham surprised the audience by dressing as Mira from K-Pop Demon Hunter while the orchestra performed the fan-favorite song “Golden.”

Later, Director of Orchestras Zac Coudret conducted the How to Train Your Dragon theme while dressed as Toothless, delighting students with both the music and the dramatic flair.

The Elementary Pops Concert serves as an exciting kickoff to instrument selection season and helps students envision themselves as future Penn musicians—whether they choose band, orchestra, or both.

[Show slideshow]

1 2 ►

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36 has a long-running holiday program called Santa’s Elficers, made up of active and retired South Bend Police officers who are committed to helping children in need. Thanks to generous toy donations from individuals and local businesses across Saint Joseph County, the program has grown in a remarkable way. When it first began, the Elficers supported about 30 children. This year, they will help provide Christmas gifts for more than 600 kids.

To make sure the support goes where it is needed most, the Elficers enjoy partnering with local schools. Teachers and counselors play an important role, serving as the groups eyes and ears to help identify students and families who would benefit from the program.

The “Head Elficer”, Officer Morgan, is a P-H-M parent, and his entire family volunteers to make this project a success.

Recently, representatives from several P-H-M schools visited the Elficer warehouse located at “The North Pole” to do some holiday shopping for their students. Each team arrived with a list of names, ages and interests and selected toys they knew their students would love.

The warehouse was organized by age range, gender and category, with everything from dolls to books to cars to clothes, electronics, STEM kits and more.

Thanks to the dedication of Santa’s Elficers and the support of our community, hundreds of local children will experience a brighter holiday season.

If you or someone you know are interested in donating to the Santa Elficer program, you can donate via PayPal, visit them at their Facebook Page, or call the FOP Lodge 36 at 574-400-5818 for more ways to help.

[Show slideshow]

1 2 ►

Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustee Mr. Matthew Chaffee, representing Penn Township Seat #1, notified the St. Joseph County Office Clerk of the Circuit Court, and Board Attorney Jon Rogers of his resignation from the P-H-M Board of School Trustees effective October 8, 2025.

Mr. Chaffee was elected to serve on the PHM School Board in November of 2022.

Per Indiana Code 20-23-4-30, school board members’ terms last four years. Mr. Chaffee’s term was set to expire on December 31, 2026.

Per Indiana Code 20-23-4-30, the remaining school board members must appoint an individual to fill the board vacancy within 30 days by a majority vote. The appointee must live within the boundaries of the school corporation and Penn Township and shall serve the balance of the term of the seat being vacated. The individual appointed must possess the qualifications provided for a regularly elected or appointed governing body member filling the office. 

P-H-M bylaw po0142 lists the qualifications for P-H-M School Trustee appointees as follows:

• The appointee must be a resident of Penn Township and must also reside within Penn Township boundaries for at least two (2) years immediately preceding the date of the appointment;
• must be at least 18 years of age per Indiana Code 20-26-4-9;
• and must also be a registered voter.

Residency of Penn Township and the Corporation can be verified by clicking here to view the St. Joseph County township boundaries map. Applicants can check their voter registration status online at https://indianavoters.in.gov/ and print the page that shows their registration status.

Indiana Code 20-23-4-30 does not dictate the process by which the School Board fills vacancies, just that the vacated seats be filled within 30 days. It is at the Board’s discretion to choose the process by which they fill the vacant seats.

The timeline and the process is as follows:

• The process to be considered a Board appointee to one of the two Penn Township vacated seats:
  • Interested applicants must provide the following:
    • A letter of interest addressed to the P-H-M Board of School Trustees and Superintendent Dr. Heather Short
      • Full home address, personal phone number, and email address must be provided as part of the letter.
    • ​Recent resume
    • Copy of proof of age (copy of Passport, Indiana-issued ID, or Driver’s License)
    • Copy of proof of voter registration in St. Joseph County (applicants can check their voter registration status online at https://indianavoters.in.gov and print the page that shows their registration status)
    • Copies of two proofs of Penn Township residency for at least two years prior (proofs of residency must be tied to the home location, such as property tax statement, dated mortgage closing documents, apartment lease, or current utility bill). Click this link to view the St. Joseph County township boundaries map to help determine Penn Township and Corporation residency eligibility. 
    • Other supporting documents, such as reference letters, are optional.
    • When applicants submit their application materials, they will be provided with an Applicant Information Packet. 

*Please note that a preliminary background check will be conducted on all applicants, followed by a more comprehensive one once the finalists are chosen.

• Monday, October 20, 2025
  • APPLICATION WINDOW NOW CLOSED!
  • ​4:30 p.m.– Deadline to have all materials listed above submitted to the Educational Services Center (55900 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, IN  46545) either in hard copy form or emailed to Administrative Assistant to the Board, Rachel Hoogenboom, at rhoogenboom@phm.k12.in.us.
  • All eligible applicants should note that letters of interest and resumes will be placed on the P-H-M website after the submission deadline. Letters of recommendation and items that disclose personal information (such as voter registration, driver’s license, proof of residency) will not be posted or disclosed.

• Monday, October 20, 2025  – The Board of School Trustees meets in an Executive Session to review and discuss the applicant pool and make the final selection of at least three appointee candidates.

• Tuesday, October 21, 2025
  • Letters of intent and resumes of all applicants will be placed on P-H-M’s website.

• Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Finalists are contacted (via phone and/or email) to schedule an interview date/time.

• Tuesday, October 28, 2025 – The Board of School Trustees holds a Special Board Meeting in public to interview the final appointee candidates. 

• Monday, November 3, 2025 – The Board of School Trustees holds a Special Board Meeting in public to vote to fill the vacant Penn Township Board position.  

• Friday, November 7, 2025 – The Board Attorney will administer the Oath of Office of the newest P-H-M School Trustee at the Attorney’s offices.  
• Monday, November 10, 2025 – The Board of School Trustees holds the regularly scheduled Board Meeting. The newest P-H-M School Trustee will participate in this meeting. A public Oath of Office will take place at the beginning of the meeting.

All meetings will take place at the Educational Services Center (55900 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka). While the meetings are being conducted in public and the public is welcome to attend and observe, public comment will not be part of the Special Board Meeting format.

Per Indiana Code 20-23-4-30, school board members’ terms last four years. Mr. Chaffe’s term was set to expire on December 31, 2026. The new appointee may choose to run for election for the ensuing four-year term, with elections taking place in November 2026 for Seat 1.

The P-H-M Board of School Trustees is a governing body of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. School Trustees are elected by members of Penn, Harris, and Madison Townships unless otherwise appointed as outlined by Indiana Code. School Boards conduct the business operations of the school district in view of the public. 

We know there will be public interest in this process. We ask that all members of the public familiarize themselves with Indiana Code 20-23-4-30. In the case of Board vacancies, when a board member leaves before the expiration of their term, there is no public election process. The Board chooses and names the appointee to fill the vacancy. Indiana Code charges the Board to be thorough in their process, act swiftly, and to conduct the interview process in a format that the public can view. 

If you have any questions on Indiana Code or how this process works, please visit the Indiana General Assembly website or the website for Indiana’s Public Access Counselor.

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation administration and members of the Penn-Harris-Madison Teachers Association (PHMTA) will conduct a Public Hearing on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., local time, at the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Educational Services Center, located at 55900 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, Indiana.

Public testimony will be taken at this meeting pursuant to Indiana Code 20-29-6-1(a).

Click Here for the notice.

The public hearing will be live streamed on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PennHarrisMadison

Mishawaka, IN – We are thrilled to announce that L.A. (Kriss) High, an 8th grade Math teacher at Schmucker Middle School and Penn-Harris-Madison’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, has advanced at the state level as one of Indiana’s Top 3 Finalists for the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year award! This incredible recognition continues to highlight Mr. High’s impactful teaching and dedication to student success.

Today, September 3rd, 2025, members of the Indiana Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year selection committee made a surprise classroom observation at Schmucker Middle School and delivered the exciting news that Mr. High had been elevated to the Top 3. Over the coming days and weeks, the IDOE will continue its process of evaluating finalists before announcing the statewide winner this fall.

When notified about reaching the Top 3, Mr. High shared:

“Once again, I am incredibly grateful and humbled to be named as a Top 3 Finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year. Thank you to my wife, Emily, and our daughters, Kate and Molly, who have been constant supporters all these years and through this entire process. When I reflect on my career as a teacher, I can’t help but think of the people and the relationships that have been built through the years. I have been blessed to be surrounded by people in my life who have impacted me from childhood until now. I wish I had the chance to personally recognize each one in a manner that they deserve, but I hope all of those people know how much they have meant to me throughout my life. To the rest of my family, friends, and co-workers—thank you for the influence you’ve had on my life.”

From District Honors to Statewide Recognition

On May 5, 2025, now-retired Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker surprised Mr. High with the news that he had been named P-H-M’s 2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year. The announcement recognized his exceptional performance in 8th-grade math, particularly his award for highest student growth on ILEARN assessments. 

Impact Outside the Classroom

In addition to his outstanding performance in the classroom, Mr. High has demonstrated leadership by organizing imaginative fundraising efforts for Riley Hospital for Children—including trivia nights, a “pie-a-teacher” contest, and a 150-mile bike ride that has raised tens of thousands of dollars over the years.

A Top 3 Finalist in Indiana

Following this impressive district-level honor, Mr. High entered the Indiana Teacher of the Year (INTOY) process. As of now, he is one of the Top‑3 finalists out of all of the teachers in Indiana. We announced on August 15th, 2025 when Mr. High was named a Top-7 Finalist.

What’s Next?

Finalists are evaluated by a committee that includes former Indiana Teachers of the Year, IDOE staff, educational and community leaders, and representatives from higher education. With today’s advancement to the Top 3, Mr. High is now one step closer to potentially being named the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year. The final winner will be announced in early Fall 2025.

Celebrating Teaching Excellence

This exciting milestone affirms the impact of L.A. High’s work in educating and inspiring middle schoolers. P-H-M is proud to celebrate his achievements, and we look forward to cheering him on as the state selection process continues.

— For more background on how Mr. High was named P-H-M’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, visit our May 5 article.

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.

This year’s home opener will be “The Backyard Brawl” against Mishawaka on Friday, August 29th, 2025. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:00 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza.

Friday night marks the 67th meeting between Penn and Mishawaka. Penn leads the all-time series 49-16-1. 

Mishawaka, IN  – We are excited to share that L.A. (Kriss) High, an 8th grade Math teacher at Schmucker Middle School & Penn-Harris-Madison’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, has advanced at the state level as one of Indiana’s Top-7 finalists for the 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year award! This recognition highlights Mr. High’s impactful teaching and commitment to student success.

When notified about reaching the Top-7, Mr. High had this to say “I am incredibly honored and grateful for this recognition. I’m so excited to be able to represent all past and present teachers, families, and students I’ve worked alongside throughout my career. I could never accomplish any of this without the influence of numerous people throughout my life. Thank you to my wife, Emily, and my daughters, Kate and Molly, for always cheering me on as a teacher. To the rest of my family, friends, colleagues, and students- your impact on my life is far greater than you know.”

From District Honors to Statewide Recognition

On May 5, 2025, now retired Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker surprised Mr. High with the news that he had been named P‑H‑M’s 2025 Secondary Teacher of the Year. The announcement recognized his exceptional performance in 8th‑grade math, particularly his award for highest student growth on ILEARN assessments, and his leadership in organizing imaginative fundraising efforts for Riley Hospital for Children—including trivia nights, a “pie‑a‑teacher” contest, and a 150‑mile bike ride that raised nearly $60,000. 

A Top-7 Finalist in Indiana

Following this impressive district-level honor, Mr. High entered the Indiana Teacher of the Year (INTOY) process. As of now, he is one of the Top‑7 finalists out of all of the teachers in Indiana.

What’s Next?

Finalists are evaluated by a committee that includes former Indiana Teachers of the Year, IDOE staff, educational and community leaders, and representatives from higher education. The final winner will be announced in early Fall 2025.

Celebrating Teaching Excellence

This exciting update builds on our earlier story and affirms the ongoing excellence of L.A. High’s work in educating and inspiring middle schoolers. We’re proud to celebrate his achievements and look forward to cheering him on as the state selection advances.

— For more background on how Mr. High was named P-H-M’s Secondary Teacher of the Year, visit our May 5 article.

Due to the absence of local, state, or national elections on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, all P-H-M schools will be in session on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.  P-H-M will no longer have a Recess Day on this date.

As a result, the last day of school for students will now be Thursday, June 5, 2025. This is one day earlier than previously scheduled. P-H-M Teachers Association worked collaboratively with the District Administration to make these calendar changes.

Indiana law requires schools to be in session for 180 days each year. If necessary, P-H-M can utilize up to three weather-related eLearning days, as permitted under Indiana law (HB-1093). If additional makeup days are needed, they will be added to the end of the school year, following the new last student day, Thursday, June 5, 2025. Currently, no eLearning days have been called.