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.

*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.

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.

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.

P-H-M is hosting a districtwide drug awareness parent community meeting to help educate P-H-M families about the current drug trends attracting teenagers. This valuable information is something all parents/guardians should be aware of. Families of all grade levels, K-12, are invited and encouraged to attend.

The session will be 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.

We hope that P-H-M families are able to attend this very important education session.

Due to the nature of the discussion, children of any age are not permitted at the parent session the evening of Tuesday, October 21. Moore will present a student focused presentation to Penn sophomores, juniors and seniors during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.

Information on a live stream and YouTube recording will be shared soon. 

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.

At Monday night’s P-H-M Board of School Trustees meeting Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, presented three current P-H-M administrators for promotion. This was Dr. Short’s first school board meeting as superintendent since she started in the role on July 1. The following administrative changes were approved at the meeting:

Randy Williams was approved as the new Director of Academic and Student Support. Williams previously served in several administrative roles within PHM since 2008, including Principal of Madison and Walt Disney Elementary Schools, Dean of Students at Penn and Associate Principal of Penn. In 2018 he was honored as a member of the “Forty under 40” class. In 2023 He became the Director of Secondary Education and Student Services for the Middlebury Community School system. Williams now returns to Penn-Harris-Madison with a wealth of new professional experiences and an enhanced skill set.

Maddie Schmidt was approved for the Assistant Principal position at Grissom Middle School. Schmidt is a former Kingsmen and a graduate of Judson University. She has a master’s degree in Educational and Business Administration from Bethel University. Schmidt began her career teaching language arts at Schmucker Middle School. During her time there, she also served as an Instructional Leader. She is an active member of PHM’s Excellence in Leadership initiative and has held multiple teacher leadership roles at SMS. Most recently, she served as a Dean at Schmucker. 

Beth Stroven was approved for the Assistant Principal position at Schmucker Middle School. This past year, Stroven served as a math teacher at Grissom Middle School and is a member of PHM’s Excellence in Leadership initiative. Prior to joining P-H-M, she was a teacher in Elkhart Community Schools, where she was recognized as the 2019 District Elementary Teacher of the Year and received the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Grant where she earned a master’s degree in Educational and Business Administration from Indiana State University. She later served as the principal of Mary Daly Elementary School.