It’s widely known that there’s a national teacher shortage. In Indiana, it’s been reported that there are around 2,000 teacher vacancies across the state.

 

Encouraging high school students with an interest in children and education to become teachers is one way we can help widen the teacher shortage gap.

 

Under Penn High School’s Family and Consumer Sciences program, students who are interested in pursuing a career in education can take several courses, such as Early Childhood Education and Cadet Teaching.

Click here to see Penn’s full Program of Studies.

 

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, a special event was held for 13 Penn students who plan to become teachers. Patterned after College Signing Day what student-athletes do to declare their intentions on playing for a particular school, the Penn students donned their college of choice t-shirt and signed their intentions to major in Education with proud parents in the audience. We also asked the students to invite their favorite P-H-M teachers.

 

Click here to see a full photo gallery on Penn’s website.

1. Brooklin Kline: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Kylee Wetzel, Penn High School
    
2. Sarah Gentry: Purdue University, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teachers: Mrs. Sherri Potts, Mrs. Cassie Scarsella, Mr. Jason Pikuza, Bittersweet Elementary; Mr. Steven Sanders, Penn High School
    
3. Gretchen Moore: Indiana University Bloomington, Secondary Special Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Bonnie Manningham, Penn High School
    
4. Kaitlyn Vargo: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School
    
5. Molly Knight: Ball State University, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mr. John Hedrick, Discovery Middle School
    
6. Brianna Magnuson: Holy Cross College, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School
    
7. Emma Szymanski: University of Kentucky, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Anna King, Mary Frank Elementary
    
8. Payton Johnson: Indiana University South Bend, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Rachael Meyers, Penn High School
    
9. Samantha Fecteau: Ball State University, Elementary Education
   Favorite Teacher: Miss Anne Napoli, Penn High School
    
10. Caitlynn Fischer, IUSB, Elementary Education
    Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Stephanie Betzer, Moran Elementary
     
11. Ellie Stabnick, University of Tampa, Elementary Education
    Favorite Teacher: Mrs. Ally Starkweather, Penn High School
     
12. Xavier Browning, Purdue University, Secondary Education
    Favorite Teacher: Mr. Kyle Marsh, Penn High School
     
13. Brandon Mueller, Indiana State, Secondary Education
    Favorite Teacher: Mr. Jeremy Starkweather, Penn High School

 

Good luck to these students and we hope to see these faces again when they come back to Penn-Harris-Madison to teach!