P-H-M Excellence

Dr. Heather Short, Superintendent of Schools

Superintendent of Schools

It is both an honor and a privilege to introduce myself as the new Superintendent of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation.

For the past 31 years, I’ve had the joy of serving this exceptional district—as a teacher, principal, director, and most recently, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. Along the way, I’ve worked alongside passionate educators, teaching remarkable students, and getting to know you, our dedicated families. These relationships are the heart of P-H-M, and they have shaped the leader I am today.

I want to thank the Board of School Trustees for their confidence in me and express my sincere appreciation to Dr. Jerry Thacker for his mentorship and leadership over the past 19 years. I am honored to carry forward the legacy he helped build.

As a district, P-H-M is on a strong and steady path of academic excellence. We are ranked in the top 4% of all Indiana school districts based on ILEARN results, and we consistently outperform the state average by 20 percentage points. These outcomes are a direct result of our shared commitment to high-quality instruction, meaningful professional development, and strong partnerships with families.

Throughout my career, I’ve remained focused on doing what’s best for students. From expanding Response to Instruction (RtI) and summer enrichment programs to securing grant funding that enhances classroom learning, every decision has been rooted in one goal: helping every child thrive.

I am excited to continue working in partnership with all of you to build on our district’s strengths, address new opportunities, and ensure the safety of our learning environments so that every child benefits from academic excellence and thrives.

Thank you for entrusting us with your children. I am honored to serve you and look forward to all we will accomplish together.

Dr. Heather Short

Carolyn Palonis, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent: