The Penn-Harris-Madison Education Foundation (PHMEF) continues its mission of supporting excellence in education by awarding $73,715.48 in classroom innovation grants for the 2025-2026 school year, marking one of the largest funding years in foundation history! And Bittersweet was fortunate to receive $7,345.25 in grant dollars!

Each year, PHMEF’s Annual Grant Cycle provides teachers across the district with opportunities to bring creative, hands-on learning projects to life, projects that go beyond traditional classroom resources. The grants are made possible through the generosity of community donors, local businesses, and district supporters.

During the first couple of weeks of December, PHMEF Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom surprised grant recipients. Click here to see the full photo gallery.

Bittersweet was awarded one traditional grant (more than $1,000) and three EZ grants (under $750) for a total of four grants. The descriptions are listed below:

1. Bittersweet Gathering Grove   
Michelle Leniski & Niki Kornrumph • $2,000
A partnership with Penn’s Building Trades, Architecture and Civil Engineering Classes to construct and design a 24’ x 24’ pavilion for the Bittersweet Nature Center. The Center is a fenced, outdoor learning space near Bittersweet and shared by Penn, Schmucker and Bittersweet. The space has been revitalized by local Boy Scouts and a Book Walk project by former students. This project is Phase One in an effort to create an area for an outdoor, sheltered classroom with picnic tables.

2. Flag Football for the Future
Matt Bodnar • $211.00
Flag Football Game Equipment

3. 3D Printed Student Support Tools
Laura Cichoracki • $750.00
3D Printer Supplies

4. Say It Write!
Susan Riley • $305.00
SpeechBuddy Tool to Enhance Speech Articulation

5. Student Dictionary Update
Leah Gerbeth • $329.25
Replace Current Outdated Student Dictionaries

“On behalf of the entire PHM Education Foundation Board I want you to know how deeply we believe in our teachers and staff,” said PHMEF Executive Director Jennifer Turnblom. “Your dedication, and passion for making a positive impact are what make our schools truly exceptional. We are committed to funding your innovative ideas because you are the heart of excellence in PHM, and we are proud to support the remarkable work you do every day.”

For more on the P-H-M Education Foundation’s 2025-26 grant awards, click here.

U.S. News and World Report released its “Best Schools” rankings for K-8 public schools by state and Bittersweet is #94 out of Indiana’s 989 public elementary schools!

Data is based on the 2021–2022, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 school years.

All of P-H-M’s elementary schools are ranked among Indiana’s “Best Elementary Schools”:

• Northpoint #1  
• Prairie Vista #2 
• Horizon #37
• Mary Frank #39
• Bittersweet #94
• Elm Road #172
• Moran #175
• Elsie Rogers #297
• Madison #273
• Meadow’s Edge #370
• Walt Disney #385

Two of P-H-M’s middle schools were also recognized:

• Discovery #3
• Schmucker #53

Indiana’s 395 Indiana public high schools were also ranked, and Penn ranked #26.

The U.S. News & World Report analyzed 103,391 pre-K, elementary and middle schools nationwide for their rankings. The rankings use the same methodology for all included grade levels. For each state, schools were assessed on their shares of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading/language arts state assessments. Half of the formula assessed the scores themselves and the other half incorporated the test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics. In other words, the top-ranked schools are all high-achieving and have succeeded at educating all their students. Click here for more information on the methodology.

The highest ranked U.S. public schools in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best High Schools rankings are those whose students demonstrated outstanding outcomes above expectations in math, reading and science state assessments, earned qualifying scores on an array of college-level exams, and graduated in high proportions. They reviewed data on 17,901 public high schools. Click here for more background information on their ranking system.

October is National Principals Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing short Q&As with each of our principals—giving you a glimpse into their leadership style, favorite parts of school life, and what drives their #PHMExcellence every day.

If you could swap places with a student for one day, what class or activity would you be most excited to participate in — and why?

Anything related to science or social studies. I love both subjects so much!

What’s your go-to morning routine (or must-have snack/coffee order) that helps you tackle the day?

One cup of coffee with a little sugar and a lot of cream. I like unflavored, regular coffee.

What were you like as a middle or high school student — and what’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

I was- well- my brain wasn’t fully developed yet, right?!? I tell students that all the time- your brain is not yet fully developed. You will make decisions at this age that you would not make when you are older. Give yourself some grace and learn along the way!

If your job as a principal had a theme song, what song would be your walk up song–the one playing when you walked into school each day?

We did walk up songs as an administrative team! The song selected for me was Come Together (The Beatles). My personal genra would probably fall under the hip hop category for a walk-up song.

What was your favorite school lunch or snack when you were a student? What is your favorite school lunch now as a principal?

Always was and always will be- whatever is being served in the cafeteria!

What’s one fun fact about you that most students or staff don’t know?

I am left handed and I can’t walk in heels for the life of me.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies outside of school that might surprise people?

I love love love to cook. I also love the moon and nature in general.

What’s one thing on your bucket list you still hope to do one day?

Live in California- love the climate, the mountains, the ocean, the culture.

What’s your favorite school tradition or event?

Watching the seniors walk through with their caps and gowns gets me every time.

If you could describe your school in one word, what would it be?

Community

Bittersweet’s third graders posted a 95.9% IREAD pass rate in 2025, up from 85.0% in 2024—a double-digit gain of 10.9 points. This impressive improvement is the result of determination, strong teaching, and family support.

“Our students put into practice the literacy foundations taught by P-H-M’s dedicated teachers, and their families reinforced that learning at home. I also thank our principals, administrators, and support staff who worked tirelessly to provide the best and safest learning environments so our students could excel.” — Superintendent Dr. Heather Short

District-wide, P-H-M achieved 93.7% proficiency, marking the highest growth in IREAD history for the district.

Click here for more information on P-H-M’s overall 2025 IREAD district success.

Bittersweet is buzzing with excitement for the year ahead.

At Monday night’s P-H-M Board of School Trustees meeting Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, presented three current P-H-M administrators for promotion. This was Dr. Short’s first school board meeting as superintendent since she started in the role on July 1. The following administrative changes were approved at the meeting:

Randy Williams was approved as the new Director of Academic and Student Support. Williams previously served in several administrative roles within PHM since 2008, including Principal of Madison and Walt Disney Elementary Schools, Dean of Students at Penn and Associate Principal of Penn. In 2018 he was honored as a member of the “Forty under 40” class. In 2023 He became the Director of Secondary Education and Student Services for the Middlebury Community School system. Williams now returns to Penn-Harris-Madison with a wealth of new professional experiences and an enhanced skill set.

Maddie Schmidt was approved for the Assistant Principal position at Grissom Middle School. Schmidt is a former Kingsmen and a graduate of Judson University. She has a master’s degree in Educational and Business Administration from Bethel University. Schmidt began her career teaching language arts at Schmucker Middle School. During her time there, she also served as an Instructional Leader. She is an active member of PHM’s Excellence in Leadership initiative and has held multiple teacher leadership roles at SMS. Most recently, she served as a Dean at Schmucker. 

Beth Stroven was approved for the Assistant Principal position at Schmucker Middle School. This past year, Stroven served as a math teacher at Grissom Middle School and is a member of PHM’s Excellence in Leadership initiative. Prior to joining P-H-M, she was a teacher in Elkhart Community Schools, where she was recognized as the 2019 District Elementary Teacher of the Year and received the prestigious Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Grant where she earned a master’s degree in Educational and Business Administration from Indiana State University. She later served as the principal of Mary Daly Elementary School.