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Penn Class of 2026 Career Signing Day
Penn High School celebrated students taking the next step toward their futures today with two Signing Day events recognizing members of the Class of 2026 pursuing careers in education and the skilled trades.
Click to see the full photo gallery in the Class of 2026 Photo Poral: https://phmexcellence.com/PhotosClassof2026
This morning, Penn hosted its third annual Teacher Signing Day, a tradition that began with the Class of 2024. Thirteen graduating seniors were recognized for their commitment to majoring in education in college and pursuing careers as future teachers.
The future teachers are guaranteed a job interview with P-H-M upon completion of their education degree and teacher licensure.
The students invited a current P-H-M teacher who played a meaningful role in encouraging their interest in the profession.
And then this afternoon, two more seniors pursuing careers in the skilled trades were recognized in the second Signing Day event.
Patrick Henning signed his commitment to begin an apprenticeship with Local 172 Plumbers and Pipefitters, while Brayden Ruth was recognized for enrolling in the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology’s 10-month welding program.
Local 172 Plumbers and Pipefitters is a valued community partner and a supporter of PHM Education Foundation.
The afternoon event highlighted additional career pathways available to Penn students as they prepare for life after graduation.
Together, the Signing Day celebrations reflected the many pathways Penn students can pursue after graduation.
Below is a sampling of the pictures taken at today’s events. Click to see the full galleries in the Class of 2026 Photo Poral: https://phmexcellence.com/PhotosClassof2026
Penn’s Mr. Michael Coffee Wins Jeneane Arter Excellence in Teaching Award
Penn High School AP Literature Teacher Michael Coffee was surprised in his classroom this afternoon (Tuesday, May 26) with the Jeneane Arter Excellence in Teaching Award, recognizing his lasting impact on students and their educational experiences.
Known for his passion for literature and his commitment to students, Mr. Coffee’s classroom goes beyond the basics of course requirements. Students say his lessons challenge them to think differently, often centered around the idea of “direct your destiny,” a message that resonates far beyond the classroom.
Students nominate their teachers for the Arter award by submitting short essays about how their favorite teacher is impacting their lives.
“The fact that he cares about the subject matter, is that he cares about his students. He wants to see them succeed, and he wants to see them grow,” one student wrote. “After every email, every question, and every conversation one has with Mr. Coffee, you walk away feeling reassured and understood, sure, but you also feel mentally driven. He doesn’t just give you the answer, but he gives you stellar toolbox at finding it.”
Students consistently describe Mr. Coffee as thoughtful, patient, and deeply invested in their success. Whether through detailed feedback, engaging discussions, or simply making time to help, they say he creates an environment where growth and confidence take hold.
Despite balancing the demands of teaching, grading, and supporting his own family, Coffee brings the same level of energy and dedication to his classroom every day. Students say that commitment is what sets him apart.
Another student who nominated Mr. Coffee shared “There are fun teachers, understanding teachers, and teachers who teach the subject in a manner that gives you a great understanding. Most teachers are at least one. Some have two of these qualities. But rarely does a teacher truly exhibit all three qualities. From the first email I ever received from Mr. Coffee I knew he had all three.”
P-H-M parents and P-H-M Education Foundation supporters Jason and Darla Lippert established the Jeneane Arter Excellence in Teaching Award is named after current Northpoint Elementary 2nd grade teacher Jeneane Arter. Any teacher is eligible for the award. Recipients receive $2,000, a gift from the Lippert Family.
Past Honorees include:
- 2025: Emily Williams, Meadow’s Edge Elementary School
- 2024: Brianne Roy, Schmucker Middle School
- 2023: Lisa Graves, Grissom Middle School
- 2022: Derrick Fairbotham, Penn High School
- 2021: Alexandra Banks, Mary Frank Elementary School
- 2019: Robi Davidson, Walt Disney Elementary School
- 2018: Diane Bowersox, Penn High School
- 2017: Jeneane Arter, Northpoint Elementary School
2026 Employee & Retiree Recognition Dinner
P-H-M’s annual Employee Recognition and Retiree Dinner was held Wednesday, May 22. While not all were present, the Corporation as a whole honored P-H-M’s Teachers of the Years, Employee of the Year, retirees, and employees who’ve been with P-H-M for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years. Click to view the dinner program.
Click to view the photos below from the event.
Human Resources Director Bob Thompson served as Master of Ceremonies; and Northpoint Principal Lorraine White gave the innovation.
School Board President Chris Riley and Superintendent Dr. Heather Short honored this year’s retirees in attendance by giving them a decorative paperweight designed as an apple. To read the full list of this year’s retirees and employees honored for their years of service with P-H-M, click here to view the dinner program.
Dr. Short recognized the Elementary Teacher of the Year Josie Engdahl (Meadow’s Edge, 4th gr.), Secondary Teacher of the Year Kelley Watts (Penn, Spanish), and Employee of the Year Carly Taylor (Northpoint, Secretary/Treasurer).
As part of the recognitions for Miss Engdahl and Mrs. Watts, P-H-M Education Foundation Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom gave each teacher a $1,000 grant from the P-H-M Education Foundation to use in their classrooms. Ms. Taylor received a gift certificate.
The entire P-H-M Board of School Trustees were in attendance: President Chris Riley, Vice President Ryan McCullough, Secretary Dana Sullivan, as well as Board Members Larry Beehler, Katie Bell, Gary Fox, and Jen Smoker.
The dinner was generously sponsored by Everwise Credit Union, P-H-M Education Foundation, Selerix, ESS, and MJ Insurance.
Below are some pictures capturing the highlights of the evening. Click here to view the full photo gallery on Canto.
P-H-M Third Graders Recognized as National Math Stars Nominees
Eleven Penn-Harris-Madison third grade students have been recognized as National Math Stars nominees through a partnership with the Indiana Department of Education.
The students earned the distinction by scoring in the top 2% of all third grade students in Indiana on the mathematics portion of ILEARN.
The National Math Stars Program is a nationwide initiative that recognizes and supports exceptional young mathematicians through academic enrichment, mentorship and advanced learning opportunities.
P-H-M is proud to celebrate the following students:
Bittersweet Elementary: Niko Hernandez
Elm Road Elementary: Daniel Ashdown
Elsie Rogers Elementary: Zeke Lannan
Horizon Elementary: Booker Kieser, Claire Stewart and Rowan Aland
Meadow’s Edge Elementary: August Kelver
Northpoint Elementary: Alan Jiang, Mason Ye and Frank Li
Prairie Vista Elementary: Emily Wojcik
This recognition reflects the hard work, curiosity and perseverance of these students, as well as the support they receive from their families, teachers and school communities. P-H-M proudly celebrates this outstanding achievement and congratulates each student on this honor.
Larry and Judy Beehler School Board Room
On May 18, 2026 the P-H-M Board of School Trustees approved the naming of the Larry and Judy Beehler School Board Room at the Dr. A. Dean Speicher Educaitonal Services Center.
Larry Beehler is a longtime Board Member, elected to the Board of School Trustees in 1986. He has served consecutively for 40 years as the Madison Township representative.
Mr. Beehler is a graduate and class valedictorian of then Madison Township High School (Wakarusa), which is now Madison Elementary School, one of P-H-M’s 11 elementary schools. Larry and his wife of 55 years, Judy, are lifelong residents of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.
During his time on the Board, Mr. Beehler served in leadership roles as Board Secretary for three years, Board Vice President for nine years, and Board President for six years. He has also served as P-H-M’s representative on several different Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) boards, including as Board Policy Liaison and Legislative Liaison. He is also an active member of the National Schools Boards Association (NSBA).
During his time on the Board, Mr. Beehler’s roles have ranged from also serving on District Strategic Planning Committees to Smaller Learning Communities Achievement Design Committee for Penn High School. Mr. Beehler was nominated and received the Penn High School Distinguished Staff Award in 2010 sponsored by the Penn High School Alumni Association.
This is the second P-H-M location named after Mr. Beehler. The Ticket Center at Everwise Freed Field was named after him in 2017.
Former Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, along with Board Members Gary Fox and Katie Bell donated the money more recently to name the Board Room after Larry and Judy Beehler as part of the P-H-M Education Foundation Naming Rights campaign.The naming rights will be effective May 18, 2026 and will last for 12 years.
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.
Spring 2026 Impact Award Winners
The Spring 2026 P-H-M Teacher Impact Awards have been delivered. Penn-Harris-Madison celebrated a group of outstanding educators whose students demonstrated exceptional academic growth and achievement across the district. The awards highlight the dedication, innovation, and impact they bring to their classrooms every day.
At Grissom Middle School, Interventionist Christy Zobrosky was recognized for her work supporting Tier 2 math intervention students across 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. In addition to supporting intervention students, Zobrosky also serves as an Instructional Leader, helping strengthen math instruction and student learning across all grade levels at Grissom. Click to see the full photo gallery.
At Discovery Middle School, 7th Grade Language Arts teacher Erin Randolph earned recognition after her students achieved the highest overall growth in the district for Grade 7 ELA from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 3, posting an impressive 84-point growth. Click to see the full photo gallery.
At Schmucker Middle School, 8th Grade Math teacher Anna Turpin was recognized after her students achieved the highest overall growth in the district for Grade 8 Math from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2, also demonstrating an impressive 84-point growth. Click to see the full photo gallery.
Several elementary teachers were also honored for strong student growth and achievement. Moran Elementary 3rd Grade teacher Sarah Schiff was recognized after her students demonstrated exceptional growth in Math from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2, achieving a total growth of 50 points. Click to see the full photo gallery.
At Northpoint Elementary School, 5th Grade teacher Jen Payne earned recognition after her students achieved the highest overall growth in the district for Grade 5 Math from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 3. Her students posted an impressive 133-point growth, outperforming all other Grade 5 Math classes district-wide. Click to see the full photo gallery.
Elsie Rogers Elementary School 4th Grade teacher Allison Simpson was honored after her students demonstrated outstanding growth in ELA from Checkpoint 1 to Checkpoint 2, achieving a 62-point growth. Click to see the full photo gallery.
P-H-M also recognized teachers supporting students beyond traditional classroom roles. Walt Disney Elementary and Elsie Rogers Elementary ENL teacher Mayra Chanon received a Teacher Impact Award for her work supporting multilingual learners at both schools. At Elsie Rogers, 100% of the Grade 2 students she worked with passed IREAD, while 68% of her students at Walt Disney either passed IREAD or are on track to pass next year. Click to see the full photo gallery.
At Penn High School, teachers Martin Ufkin and Megan Buckler were both recognized for student academic growth connected to PSAT/NMSQT and SAT performance. English 11 teacher Martin Ufkin was honored after 61% of his students demonstrated measurable academic growth from the PSAT/NMSQT in October to the SAT in March, the highest percentage among English 11 classes district-wide. Algebra II teacher Megan Buckler was recognized after 79% of students demonstrated measurable growth between the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT, the highest percentage among Algebra II classes across the district.
Click to see the Martin Ufkin photo gallery in Canto.
Click to see the Megan Buckler photo gallery in Canto.
Throughout the spring, Superintendent Dr. Heather Short joined principals at eight schools to surprise each award winner in front of their students and colleagues.
In February and March, Dr. Short handed out 10 awards to deserving teachers. Click to read.
Click on the links to see previous Impact award winners: 2023, 2024, 2025.
P-H-M thanks the Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation for supporting the Teacher Impact Awards and helping recognize excellence in teaching and learning across the district.
Schafer Gear Works Robotics Lab Unveiled
This afternoon P-H-M and Penn High School Administration along with the P-H-M Education Foundation officially unveiled the updated entryway for Schafer Gear Works Robotics Lab at Penn High School. The lab is where Penn’s Robotics classes are held and Teams 135 (Black Knights) and 328 (Golden Rocks) work out of. Manufacturing and welding classes are also held in this area.
Penn Robotics and Penn Graphic Design students designed the graphic that features Schafer’s name on the garage door entry to the lab.
Teachers and students gathered with representatives from P-H-M, PHMEF, Penn and Schafer Industries were on hand to celebrate the newly named Schafer Gear Works Robotics Lab.
- Schafer Gear Works: Eric Van Rens (CEO); Paresh Shah (Director of Operations); Mike Lashure (VP of Sales); Alex Beagles (Production Manager); Barb Shklar (Director of HR); and Kelly Lowry (HR Manager)
- P-H-M Board Members: Vice President Ryan McCollough, Secretary Dana Sullivan, and Member Jen Smoker
- P-H-M Administration: Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Chief Operating Officer Dr. Sean Galiher, and Asst. Superintendent Dr. Lavon Dean-Null
- PHM Education Foundation: Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom; and Board Members: Kelli Collins, Allison Laidig, and Kelly Weidner
- Penn High School Administration: Principal Rachel Fry, Asst. Principals Josiah Parker and Kristel Wheeler; along with Penn teachers Kyle Marsh (Robotics), Stephen Vincent (Robotics), and Scott Shellart (Welding & Manufacturing)
In alignment with PHMEF’s long-term sustainability model, the donation will be directed to the PHMEF Endowment, ensuring support for innovative projects in P-H-M schools for years to come. A portion of the funds will also be allocated specifically to support Penn Robotics, strengthening competitive robotics opportunities and hands-on STEM learning for students.
“This investment reflects the heart of PHMEF’s mission of building sustainable support for innovation in our schools. With an endowment now exceeding $1 million, we are able to ensure that philanthropic partnerships like this one continue to grow opportunity for students well into the future,” said Jennifer Turnblom, Executive Director of PHMEF.
“Schafer is very excited to partner with Penn High School with this unique opportunity related to the Robotics Laboratory,” commented Eric Van Rens, CEO Schafer Gear Works. By providing this naming grant to the Penn High School Robotics Laboratory, we hope to help create meaningful opportunities for students to explore STEM activities, hands-on problem solving and touch technologies that are critical to the work force of tomorrow. Workforce development activities such as this are truly an investment in the future of American manufacturing and engineering.”
Walt Disney Principal Named IUSB Alumni of the Year
Walt Disney Elementary School Principal Matt Garber is being recognized by the Indiana University South Bend School of Education as its 2026 Outstanding Alumni of the Year.
The award, established in 2016, recognizes one alumnus from each school on campus for the difference they’re making in their communities. It’s meant to highlight graduates who reflect the same values IU South Bend works to instill in its students.
Principal Garber accepted his award May 6 as part of the IUSB’s School of Education Excellence Awards Night and featured other Excellence Award winners. As the Outstanding Alumni of the Year Awardee, he was the featured speaker.
Walt Disney is a vibrant and very active elementary school. As a highly engaged principal, he participates and leads many of the school’s annual beloved activities, such as “Page to Stage” and “Rock Your School,” helping build a strong sense of community and culture. He’s never ashamed to dress up in costume to give students and staff a good laugh, like when he dressed up as Super Mario to play in the Staff vs. Students Basketball game held before Winter Break.
Principal Garber is in his third year with P-H-M. He was named principal of Walt Disney for the 2025–26 school year. Before that, he served as assistant principal at Schmucker Middle School starting in the 2023–24 school year.
He began his career in education in 2017 as a school counselor with Fairfield Community Schools at New Paris Elementary. In 2020, he moved to Elkhart Community Schools, where he worked as a dean and assistant principal at both Hawthorne and Mary Beck Elementary Schools.
Mr. Garber graduated from Bethel University with a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management and went on to receive
his Master of Education in Education/School Counseling from Indiana University South Bend. He completed his principal licensure program at Ball State University.
He’ll be recognized during IU South Bend’s Night of the Titans in October, alongside other Alumni of the Year recipients and honorees receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award and Chancellor’s Medal.
Grissom Principal Named District 2 Principal of the Year
Indiana Association of School Principals announced that Grissom Principal Jennifer Sinclair has been named District 2 Middle School Principal of the Year!
District 2 includes the following counties: St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Fulton, Pulaski, Marshall, Starke, and LaPorte.
Mrs. Sinclair has been principal of Grissom since 2022. She was named to the South Bend Chamber’s Class of 2023 “Michiana Forty Under 40.” Under her leadership in 2024, Principal Sinclair started the “Fourteen Under 14” program at Grissom molded after “Forty Under 40” as a way to elevate and encourage students.
The winner of the Indiana Middle School Principal of the Year will be announced in November.