Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustee Mr. Matthew Chaffee, representing Penn Township Seat #1 has 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, 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.

Below are all the applicants that submitted letters of intent and resumes by the Monday, Oct. 20, 4:30 p.m. deadline. All applicants listed were verified and met the qualifications listed above. 

The remaining members of the P-H-M Board of School Trustees met in Executive Session on Monday, October 20 to review all the applicants and decided all five applicants will be called for the Board interview process.

• John “Todd” Douthit
• Brandon M. Kastner
• William “Matt” Ludwig
• Jennifer L. Smoker
• Ryan C. Woodruff

The rest of the timeline is listed below:

• Tuesday, October 21, 2025 – Applicants 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 applicants. 

• 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.

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.

P-H-M’s ENL Department is hosting their annual Community Connections Fair on Saturday, November 1st.

Join us for activities, arts & crafts, food, performances, and to learn about resources in our community. It is completely FREE and all P-H-M families are invited to attend. Click here to see photos on Facebook of past Fairs.

For any families that want to sign up to perform, please click here to fill out the Google form.

The P-H-M Board of School Trustees approved a request from the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights Campaign to rename the Educational Services Center the Dr. A. Dean Speicher Educational Services Center after the longtime superintendent who led P-H-M for 21 years, from 1971 to 1992.

The renaming of the ESC is sponsored by Dr. Jerry and Donna Thacker who donated $10,000 and will be in effect for 12 years. Dr. Thacker retired in July 2025 after 19 years leading P-H-M as superintendent. Dr. Speicher hired Dr. Thacker as 6th grade teacher at P-H-M’s Madison Elementary School. Dr. Speicher became Dr. Thacker’s mentor and friend.

A native of Middlebury, IN, Dr. Speicher graduated from Ball State University in 1959 with a degree in business education and administration and a minor in journalism. He began his career teaching journalism at Highland Senior High School in Northwest Indiana and went on to earn a master’s degree in public relations from Indiana University in 1965. By 1967, he had completed a doctorate in educational administration and supervision from Ball State. He returned to Highland as assistant superintendent before coming to Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation in 1971 serving as superintendent for two decades.

Under his leadership, Dr. Speicher fostered a “culture of excellence” in P-H-M. He believed in setting the bar high for both academics and athletics.

In 1973, Speicher hired Chris Geesman as Penn High School football coach, a decision that transformed the school’s program. Under Geesman’s leadership, the Kingsmen went on to secure five state championships and establish itself as a powerhouse in Indiana football. In recognition of this impact, Speicher was inducted into the Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

Physically, Dr. Speicher transformed the P-H-M School Corporation from just over 3,000 students in 1971 to over 9,000 students in 1992. Facilities were built or remodeled to accommodate the growth during his years as superintendent:

• Educational Services Center (ESC) –1974
• Bittersweet Elementary School – 1980
• Mary Frank Elementary School – 1982
• Elsie Rogers Elementary School – 1982
• Moran Elementary School – 1982
• Madison Elementary School – 1986
• Elm Road Elementary School – 1987
• Prairie Vista Elementary School – 1989
• Penn High School major renovations including the Center for Performing Arts, expanded gym and swimming pool – 1991

Dr. Speicher held a number of leadership roles at both the state and national levels:

• Board Member of Ball State University (Muncie, IN), 1971 – 1975
• President of Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS), 1978 – 1979
• Chairperson of American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Academy for School Executives,1981 – 1983
• President of American Association of School Administrators (AASA), 1989 – 1990

The Thackers’ gift honors Dr. Speicher’s exemplary service, unwavering commitment to excellence, and visionary leadership that profoundly shaped P-H-M and the greater community. His legacy of innovation, integrity, and devotion to students, staff, and families is commemorated in the renaming of the ESC–past, present, and future.

This makes the sixth donation Dr. and Mrs. Thacker have made as part of the PHMEF Naming Rights Campaign, recognizing the contributions P-H-M employees have made to the community. Click here for more details.

1. Chris Geesman Kingsmen Athletic Center (formerly the Kingsmen Athletic Center), $25,000 donated in December 2021 ($5,000 per year over five years, for an overall period of 12 years)
2. Al Rhodes Kingsmen Court, $10,000 donated in October 2023 
3. Arthur M. Klinger Planetarium (formerly the  P-H-M DVT & Planetarium), $10,000 donated in January 2024
4. Yeoman Family Plaza, $10,000 donated in March 2024 
5. Greg Dikos Field, $10,000 donated in August 2024
6. Dr. A. Dean Speicher Educational Services Center, $10,000 donated in October 2025

During his nearly 20 as superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, Dr. and Mrs. Thacker supported the Education Foundation wholeheartedly. Since 2006 and with this latest gift, Dr. and Mrs. Thacker donated $242,500 to PHMEF, including this most recent donation. Most of this money has either been unrestricted donations or used as matching funds for fundraising initiatives.

The mission of the Education Foundation is to develop alternative sources of income to support education initiatives in the School Corporation by strengthening partnerships between the community and the District. PHMEF supports education through awarding innovative teaching grants, scholarships to students, staff development and other corporation-wide initiatives.

Per PHMEF’s naming rights fundraising initiative, 80 percent of the donation will go into the Foundation’s endowment, which will in turn provide alternative and additional funding for various co-curricular and extracurricular programs. The remaining 20 percent directly funds professional development initiatives for P-H-M teachers. Continuing education and training of teachers is a major priority for P-H-M School District.

P-H-M hosted a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting on Tuesday October, 21, 2025 to help educate P-H-M families and the greater community about the current drug trends attracting teenagers. This valuable information is something all adults should be aware of, click the image above to watch the recorded video of the presentation. It will only be available until end of business day Thursday, Nov. 20th.

The session was led by Tall Cop Says Stop™ contracted educator, Melissa Moore, CPS. Tall Cop Says Stop™ was created by Officer Jermaine Galloway, an Idaho law enforcement officer since 1997. Galloway is regarded as one of America’s top experts in various drug and alcohol trends and specializes in underage drinking and drug enforcement. For more than 15 years, he has trained school administrators and safety personnel in spotting the dangers that threaten teens and the community. Melissa Moore, a 24-year public health experienced professional, who works to advance the mission of Tall Cop Says Stop™ in helping educate parents/guardians and students about the latest deadly effects of so-called recreational drug use.

Click here to access Melissa Moore’s resources referenced in her presentation.

Questions can be directed to the presenter at m3consultingllcwi@gmail.com.

Moore also presented a student focused presentation to Penn students (grades 9-12) during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.

*Update* – This event has been moved from September 18th to Friday, September 19th

ESS hires substitute teachers and aides, along with Exceptional Education Assistant positions.

Can’t make it to one of the Hiring Events listed above. Click here to apply today. Be sure to enter Penn-Harris-Madison in the search box.

Pre-sale tickets for the Mishawaka at Penn Football game are on sale now!

🗓️Friday, Aug. 29

🏈Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

📍Penn’s Everwise/Freed Field

🍔🌭Come early (5:00 – 6:30 p.m.) and enjoy a budget, family friendly meal at the Community Tailgate. Click for more details.

Tickets can be purchased at Penn High School and Mishawaka High School.

If purchasing in person at Penn, enter Door A, which is located on the west side of the building. Upon entering, ask for the Athletic Office. Tickets can be purchased daily from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. until Thursday, Aug. 28. Tickets can be purchased on game day from 9 a.m.- Noon in the Athletic Office.

Tickets are $6 until game day. Game day tickets are $7. These are CASH ONLY transactions!

Click here to purchase tickets online.

Students and Patrons please the graphic below to be aware of the items prohibited from bringing into the Stadium.

With the Indiana Department of Education’s release today (Wednesday, August 13) of 2025 IREAD-3 results, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Heather Short proudly announces that 93.7% of P-H-M third graders passed IREAD.

P-H-M’s IREAD pass rate increased 6.9 percentage points, up from 86.8% in 2024 to 93.7% in 2025–the largest gain in P-H-M’s history of IREAD testing! 

Horizon Elementary’s third graders achieved a 100% IREAD pass rate. With 115 students tested, Horizon ranks as Indiana’s highest-performing school for both the number of students assessed and the percentage passing.

A total of seven P-H-M elementary schools had pass rates of 90% or higher, including two of P-H-M’s Title I schools: 

• Horizon – 100% 
• Prairie Vista – 98.9% 
• Mary Frank – 98.2%
• Northpoint – 97.1%
• Bittersweet – 95.9%
• Elsie Rogers – 94.6% (Title I school)
• Moran at 93.9% (Title I school)

P-H-M students’ success contributed to Indiana’s overall historic jump of nearly five percentage points to 87.3%–the state’s largest single-year increase since the IDOE launched IREAD in 2013. The previous record for the largest year-over-year increase was set in 2024, and was less than 1%.

The P-H-M Board of School Trustees is celebrating, alongside P-H-M administration, the district’s record-breaking achievement; P-H-M outperformed the state’s pass rate by 6.4 percentage points.

“These scores are a tremendous success story, showcasing the hard work of our third graders and the commitment of their families,” said Dr. Short. “Our students put into practice the literacy foundations taught by P-H-M’s dedicated teachers, and their families reinforced that learning at home. I also thank our principals, administrators, and support staff who worked tirelessly to provide the best and safest learning environments so our students could excel.”

Over 99% of P-H-M third graders will be advancing to fourth grade for the 2025-26 school year. 

“Helping every child pass IREAD is our priority,” said Dr. Short. “P-H-M provides a wide range of supports to help students excel in IREAD and in academics overall. We are grateful for our talented teachers and support staff whose dedication and persistence make a difference every day. Our students also benefit from after-school tutoring and the extra learning opportunities offered through summer school.”

Last year, the Indiana Legislature passed a law requiring a student who does not pass IREAD in second or third grade to receive remediation and attend summer school with two more opportunities to pass. If a student passes IREAD in second grade, they do not have to take it again in third grade. This year marked the first time all Indiana second graders took IREAD. P-H-M participated as a pilot district in Spring 2023 giving all our second graders the opportunity to take IREAD early.

Some students can receive a “good cause exemption” that allows them to continue to fourth grade. There is an automatic retention for third-grade students who do not pass IREAD that do not qualify for the exemption. 

The legislation also requires districts to implement science-of-reading-based curricula and for all K-5 and special education teachers to receive an Early Literacy Endorsement upon license renewal on or after July 1, 2027.

Over 270 P-H-M teachers were trained in LETRS (science of reading training program) last year, meeting the state-required professional development for the  Early Literacy Endorsement. Every summer, P-H-M has nearly a hundred teachers participating in the district’s annual Literacy Summit–a completely voluntary summer professional development opportunity. 

“P-H-M has always recognized the importance and power of professional development,” said Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Lavon Dean-Null. “The connection between well-trained teachers and academic excellence is clear. Our students and families are blessed to have committed teachers, who are lifelong learners, willing to work over the summer, continuing to grow and learn the best and evolving teaching methods.”

All of P-H-M’s 11 elementary schools saw pass rate gains, including double-digit increases at three schools: Bittersweet (+10.9); Meadow’s Edge (+13.7 points); and Walt Disney (+12.6 points). Meadow’s Edge and Walt Disney are Title I schools.

*Title I schools

Other 2025 P-H-M  academic achievements:
In July, the Indiana Department of Education released Spring ILEARN results, and P-H-M students outscored the state average by 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This places P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations statewide for the second consecutive year.

Northpoint and Prairie Vista rank in the Top 10 across Indiana, while Discovery Middle School earned the #3 spot. Eighth-grade math achievement continues to climb, up 24 percentage points since the benchmark year, now outpacing the state average by a remarkable 28 points.

Penn High School’s academic results also reached new heights in 2025. Among public high schools in SAT pass percentage, Penn vaulted from #27 to #15 in just one year. AP success surged as well—83% of students scored a 3 or higher, marking a 12% jump from last year and nearly doubling the number of qualifying scores since 2021.

Penn maintains a 98% graduation rate, and the Class of 2025 earned an impressive $22 million in scholarships.

Summer is a busy time of year for Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. Although our schools and campuses are busy year round with summer enrichment, athletic, and activity camps, P-H-M Facilities, Maintenance, Grounds, and Custodial Staff take advantage of having less staff and students in our buildings to do necessary maintenance and updates. P-H-M works with valued partners to conduct the majority of Capital Improvement Projects over the summer months.

Below is a listing of just some of the total work being done this summer across the district, along with a corresponding photos:

Bittersweet Elementary School & P-H-M District Educational Services Center

Mary Frank Elementary School

Walt Disney Elementary School

Discovery & Schmucker Middle Schools

Exterior restrooms and concession stands. Click to see Discovery photo gallery. Click to see Schmucker photo gallery.

Penn High School

Automatic ADA door controls

HVAC upgrades, improving the multistack chillers and the cooling tower heat pumps

The work being done over the course of 2025 is part of P-H-M’s 2-year, $55 million overall Capital Improvement Plan approved by the School Board in November 2023. Click to review the plan and see the project breakdown per school. 

The projects were reviewed and prioritized based on the following improvement criteria: safety and security, learning environment, replacement cycles, and the district’s goal of maintaining and improving the overall appearance and function of each educational facility to create optimal learning opportunities.

These planned improvements are being financed through a Lease Rental and follow the district’s debt service management plan to maintain a stable tax rate, currently the lowest school district tax rate in St. Joseph County.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2025 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students once again outperformed the state average by an impressive 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This achievement places P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations across Indiana (see the charts below).

“These results reflect the exceptional work of our teachers, students, and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, and this data shows that our efforts are paying off.”

P-H-M has maintained its Top 4% ranking for a second consecutive year, a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the strategies that drive student success. Out of Indiana public schools that passed both ELA and Math, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10; and Discovery Middle School is #3 in the state.

A closer analysis of the data shows strong gains across grade levels and student groups. Middle school students, in particular, demonstrated significant improvement in math, based on the state’s 2021 benchmark. P-H-M 8th grade Math performance is up 24% since the benchmark year and now the variance over the state average is 28%.

The district’s Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) student population, which now exceeds 30%, continues to demonstrate notable progress. Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing close to 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of F/R students passing both ELA and Math.

“These achievements are not by accident,” added Dr. Short. “They are the result of intentional investments in teacher professional development and the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. We are fortunate to have educators and staff who are deeply committed to supporting every learner.”

Indiana junior high school students are now required to take the SAT for graduation. The IDOE also released SAT results. Among public high schools in pass percentage, Penn High School moved up from #27 last year, to #15 this year.

Results from the Spring 2025 IREAD assessment are expected to be released in early fall, and P-H-M looks forward to sharing those outcomes as well.

ILEARN Math

ILEARN ELA