Shari Cerney, a teacher’s Aide at Meadow’s Edge Elementary, got the shock of her life when she walked back into the classroom after recess on Thursday (April 27, 2017).

Penn-Harris-Madison Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Principal Jayson Snyder and several members of P-H-M Administration were waiting for her. That’s when Dr. Thacker surprised Mrs. Cerney telling her that she had been chosen as the 2017 P-H-M Classified Employee of the Year. The announcement was made even more special because several of her family members were also in the classroom waiting. Her husband Jim and her two daughters, Tai Cerney and Ali Renz, who is a kindergarten teacher at Elm Road, were present along with Mrs. Cerney’s first cousin, Shane Galloway and his wife Jaye Galloway, who is a P-H-M Board of School Trustees member.

Understandably, Mrs. Cerney was just a bit startled when she walked in and saw the TV news cameras and all the invited guests in the back of the room. She was moved to tears telling the students that they are the reason why she comes to work every day and thanked her fellow Meadow’s Edge staff members noting “It takes a village!”  The students of 2nd grade teacher Ms. Leah Gerbeth's class were elated to celebrate with her.

Mrs. Cerney has been a P-H-M employee for 21 years! She started as an instructional aide in 1996 at Elm Road Elementary, where her daughter was attending at the time. After two years, she transferred to Meadow’s Edge and has been there ever since. Mrs. Cerney has had many roles at Meadow’s Edge including running a program that helped struggling students turn around their behavioral and academic problems. She takes great pride watching her students grow and excel. Her love for education is infectious and permeates everything she does.

Meadow’s Edge Principal Jayson Snyder describes Mrs. Cernery as  “collaborative and committed to excellence in everything she does. She leads by example, providing a model of what integrity and selfless leadership looks like for both students and staff,” said Mr. Snyder. “Simply put, Shari makes everyone around her better.”

Mrs. Cerney will be officially recognized and receive her plaque at P-H-M’s Employee Recognition Dinner on May 17th.