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.

P-H-M is following its Facility Improvement Plan (which can be found on the P-H-M Facilities web page). 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.

On Monday, June 9, 2025, Penn High School graduated approximately 852 members of the Class of 2025! Click here for information on this remarkable class responsible for $22 million in scholarships!

Penn-Harris-Madison’s District and Penn High School Communications staff are pleased to offer a video archive of the Commencement Ceremony and a photo gallery from this memorable night. Click here for a PDF of the Commencement Program.

Click below to view the photo gallery of candids taken at Commencement and before.

phmexcellence.com/PhotosClassof2025

The photos are FREE to download. While we try to capture as many graduates as possible, unfortunately it’s not possible to get everyone, but we hope you enjoy this complimentary service.

* Please note Inter-State Photography takes individual pictures of every senior with their diplomas and  Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker.

Those pictures are available for purchase through this Inter-State Photography website, https://cpinterstatestudio.shootproof.com/2025PennCommencement. Password:  PHS2025514 

In a special meeting held Tuesday, May 27, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees unanimously (7-0) approved the appointment of Dr. Heather Short as the district’s next superintendent effective July 1, 2025.

Nearly 50 P-H-M teachers, administrators, staff, family and friends showed up to express their overwhelming support of Dr. Short’s appointment.

Dr. Short, a lifelong educator who has dedicated her entire 31-year career to P-H-M, will succeed Dr. Jerry Thacker, who is retiring after 19 years of transformative leadership. Dr. Short has served as Assistant Superintendent for Instruction since 2017. During her tenure, P-H-M students have experienced consistent academic growth and achievement.

“I am deeply honored by the Board’s confidence and grateful to Dr. Thacker for his mentorship throughout my career,” said Dr. Short. “It has been the privilege of a lifetime to grow as a leader within this incredible district. I’m excited to continue working alongside our talented staff, dedicated families, and exceptional students to expand opportunities and ensure every child thrives.”

Under Dr. Short’s leadership, P-H-M ranks in the top 4% of Indiana districts based on ILEARN scores. The district also outpaces the state average by 20 percentage points in overall percent passing rates.

“There is no one better—or more qualified—to lead P-H-M’s continued path of academic excellence than Dr. Short,” said Chris Riley, President of the Board of School Trustees. “Her academic expertise and visionary leadership in developing rigorous, relevant curriculum have been key to our students’ success. Dr. Short was the Board’s clear and unanimous choice for superintendent.”

P-H-M is home to some of Indiana’s highest-performing public schools in both English/Language Arts and Math. Prairie Vista Elementary ranks #3 in the state, while Discovery Middle School ranks #2. In Spring 2024, P-H-M’s IREAD pass rate was 86.8%, surpassing the state average of 82.5%. Three P-H-M elementary schools—Prairie Vista (97.7%), Northpoint (95%), and Horizon (95.3%)—achieved pass rates above 90%.

Included in her district-wide academic strategy was a robust Response to Intervention (RtI) program and expanded summer offerings that support both enrichment and remediation.

Dr. Short’s leadership journey reflects deep roots and unwavering commitment to P-H-M. She began her career as a classroom teacher before serving as an Instructional Leader and High Ability Coordinator. Click here to learn how Dr. Short and Board Trustee Katie Bell’s paths crossed when Dr. Short was a 3rd grade teacher at Northpoint. In 2004, she became principal of Prairie Vista Elementary. Recognizing her talent for professional growth and instructional excellence, Dr. Thacker appointed her in 2007 as P-H-M’s first Director of Professional Development—a role she held for a decade before being named Assistant Superintendent.

Throughout her career, Dr. Short has been deeply committed to developing others. She co-created a nationally recognized leadership development program designed to build internal capacity among P-H-M educators and administrators. Her strategic focus on professional development has empowered teachers at every level—from new educators to veteran principals—through initiatives like the annual Literacy Summit and the New Teacher Series.

As Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Short has combined her instructional leadership with strong fiscal stewardship. She has overseen the management of multimillion-dollar budgets and successfully secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in state grants—investments that have directly enhanced classroom instruction, expanded student programs, and strengthened districtwide operations.

“Dr. Short possesses one of the most valuable qualities a leader can have: the ability to build genuine relationships,” said Dr. Thacker. “She makes personal connections with teachers, principals, staff, families—and most importantly, students. She understands the P-H-M culture because she helped build it. There is no one more fitting to serve as the next superintendent.”

After the Board approved Dr. Short as the district’s new leader, Board members shared well wishes and comments. Trustee Katie Bell (elected in November 2024) talked about how things have come full circle for her as a former student of Dr. Short’s when she taught 3rd grade gifted and talented students at Northpoint. The two were actually featured in an article that ran in the South Bend Tribune in March 2003. The article featured Dr. Short teaching her students how to use PowerPoint for their Geography reports on Asia. Click here to read the original story.

Fast forward to 2013 to when Dr. Short was P-H-M’s Director of Professional Development, she interviewed Bell for a teaching position. Bell was hired as a kindergarten teacher in 2016 at Prairie Vista Elementary School and Dr. Short led the professional development for all new teachers. 

“Dr. Short and I are a testament that it’s never goodbye, it’s always see you later,” Bell said. “And I think that shows the true impact of a teacher, that they are in your lives forever, and that you will always remember them.”

Media Coverage

• South Bend Tribune
• ABC 57
• WSBT-TV
• WNDU-TV

For the 12th consecutive year, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation was named among the 2025’s Best Communities for Music Education (​BCME) in the country by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation! P-H-M has received this recognition more than any other school district in Indiana!

This year NAMM has named 935 school districts as the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education, and P-H-M is one of them! The award program recognizes and celebrates outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment to and access to music education. 

In P-H-M elementary schools, music class is part of the regular curriculum following state standards. Students are instructed in both vocal and instrument classes. Beginning in 6th grade, P-H-M students at our three middle schools (Discovery, Schmucker and Grissom) have the opportunity to choose choir, orchestra or band as their music elective. Students at Discovery also have the option of choosing Piano Lab. Schools from elementary all the way up to Penn High School also perform musicals.

Penn High School offers the Fine Arts & Communication Academy as part of its unique academy structure. The seven academy design provides Penn students with relevant and meaningful coursework taught in smaller, supportive environments where each student is known well by his teacher and peers. Nearly a third of Penn’s total 3,500 students are enrolled in the Fine Arts Academy with the majority being involved with music programs, either Choir, Orchestra, Band or another music program.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, P-H-M answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas. Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music.

In a series of landmark studies by scientists and researchers at Northwestern University a link was found between students in community music programs and life-long academic success, including higher high school graduation rates and college attendance. In another study from the University, it was discovered that the benefits of early exposure to music education improves how the brain processes and assimilates sounds, a trait that lasts well into adulthood. Beyond the Northwestern research, other studies have indicated that music education lays the foundation for individual excellence in group settings, creative problem solving and flexibility in work situations, as well learning how to give and receive constructive criticism to excel.

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.

Our school hosted the Monday, October 7 P-H-M Board of School Trustees meeting. It was an opportunity to shine the spotlight on some of the amazing things our students and staff are doing.

Principal Shonda Masterson kicked the meeting off by sharing with the School Trustees Bittersweet’s test data–Bittersweet students scored in the Top 5% of schools on last year’s ILEARN. Principal Masterson credited the teachers and the use of formative assessment with a focus on fostering stronger and more confident student writers. 

Creative writing exercises are being used at all levels. As an example second graders wrote about their field trip to Kercher’s Apple Orchard using their story vocabulary words. Alyssa Moles, Emmalyn Fazi, Steven Johnson, Cami Cromartie read their stories to the Board Members.

Other Bittersweet highlights included:

• pictures from 1st grade’s visit to nearby Garden at Chapel Hill Cemetery last Memorial Day to honor deceased veterans
• the Pen Pals program for 1st and 5th graders to other P-H-M elementary schools
• sharing the Bittersweet P.A.W.S. Pledge written by Media Aide Julie Villalba 

The spotlight on Bittersweet ended with a performance by Mrs. Cayleen Balbo-Veal’s 5th grade music students.

Summer instruction is provided for elementary, middle and high school students who need additional time and extra support mastering grade level skills.

Based on teacher recommendations, parent requests, test results and evidence of need, principals will issue invitations in the spring for certain students to attend one or more sessions of P-H-M’s summer school program.  

Instruction is very focused, and may cover only math or only reading, depending on the student’s needs.  The approach is remedial, prescriptive, and highly supportive.  Bus transportation and food service are provided as part of summer school. 

Penn High School’s summer program is credit-based, meaning students undertake and complete actual courses for credit, some in the classroom and some online.  Students who wish to include summer classes in their schedule should see their counselor. 

Information about P-H-M’s summer instructional programs are mailed to families who students participate in the program. Dates, times and locations are posted on the website in the spring.

Homebound instruction provides continuity of educational services between the classroom and the home for students whose medical needs, both physical and psychiatric, prohibit school attendance. 

Additionally, homebound instruction may be used to supplement the classroom program for health-impaired children whose conditions may interfere with consistent attendance or children with disabilities that prevent regular school attendance. 

Homebound instruction is intended to be temporary. The “temporary” requirement is based on the premise that instruction should take place in the school setting to the fullest extent possible. 

Who is eligible for homebound instruction?

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, per Board Policy 2412 and in accordance with Indiana Code 20-26-3, will provide individual instruction to students of legal school age who are not able to attend classes because of accident, illness, or disability. 

A student is eligible to receive homebound instruction if:

• The student is expected to miss 20 consecutive days of school, or
• A total of 20 days over a period of one year, or
• Any number of days of homebound care or hospital care necessary to complete the school year

Continuity of educational services for the student is the goal of homebound instruction. 

How does homebound instruction work?

• The homebound instructor is a licensed teacher who acts as a bridge between home and school.
• If services are provided in the home, the parent/guardian must be present. Services may be provided at an alternate location per agreement between the parent and the homebound teacher.
• Laboratory and activity-based classes like physical education and choir are not available through homebound services.
• Five hours of instruction per week is the maximum available to a homebound student.  
• The homebound teacher will keep a log of all tutoring hours and materials taught.
• When the student returns to school the homebound teacher will prepare a report summarizing the student’s academic progress and submit it to the principal or guidance counselor. 

How do I arrange for homebound services for my child?

Documentation of a disabling condition must be done by a physician licensed to practice in the State of Indiana.

The physician must:

• Certify the nature of the medical disability, and
• State the probable duration of the confinement, and
• Certify the student’s ability to participate in an educational program

The parent starts the application process by filling out the Request Physician Form or request a printed copy from your school principal or your student’s guidance counselor. This form must be presented to the student’s physician who should complete and sign it, and then returned to the school or the parent. 

In addition, the parent must read, sign, and return the Homebound Requirements and Parental Agreement. The information on this page makes clear how important parental support is to a child’s successful homebound experience.

Both forms must be on file at the school before a homebound instructor can be scheduled. 

How long can my child receive homebound instruction?

The goal of homebound instruction is to facilitate the student’s return to the classroom setting as quickly as possible. 

Application for homebound services must be completed each year. Homebound services do not continue from one school year to the next without a new application form and physician-certified statement of need. 

Questions? 

Contact the Office of the Assistant Superintendent
Office 574-258-9588 

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
55900 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka IN 46545