Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R-IN 2nd District) made a surprise visit today to call Penn High School Principal Steve Hope out of the principal’s office!

Representative Walorski made the special drop-in visit to present Principal Hope with a Congressional Record recognition. The award is actually a framed letter from the Congresswoman that states that she submitted a statement about Mr. Hope to the official Congressional Record of the United States Congress honoring him for being named Indiana Principal of the Year. The Congressional Record is published daily when Congress is in session and is the official register of the proceedings of both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Hope was named Principal of the Year in November 2015 by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP). Principal Hope is known to his students as an attentive and compassionate leader, and  a mentor to Penn’s 194 teachers and staff. During his time as principal, Penn’s graduation rate accelerated from 79% in 2008 to 97%. Indiana’s Department of Education named Penn an A-rated school, a 4-Star Award winner and a 90-25-90 high school. U.S. News and World Report named Penn an Outstanding High School in 2009 and again in 2015. 

On hand for today’s surprise visit and recognition by Representative Walorski, was Penn-Harris-Madison School Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker; members of the Board of School Trustees President Gary Fox and Randy Leliaert. Members of Penn’s administration, teaching staff, support staff and a handful of students were on hand for the presentation.