P-H-M is hosting a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting to help educate P-H-M families and the greater community about the current drug trends attracting teenagers. This valuable information is something all adults should be aware of. This event is open to all Parents/Guardians of all grade levels, K-12, and all families in the community are invited and encouraged to attend.

The session will be led by Tall Cop Says Stop™ contracted educator, Melissa Moore, CPS. Tall Cop Says Stop™ was created by Officer Jermaine Galloway, an Idaho law enforcement officer since 1997. Galloway is regarded as one of America’s top experts in various drug and alcohol trends and specializes in underage drinking and drug enforcement. For more than 15 years, he has trained school administrators and safety personnel in spotting the dangers that threaten teens and the community. Melissa Moore, a 24-year public health experienced professional, who works to advance the mission of Tall Cop Says Stop™ in helping educate parents/guardians and students about the latest deadly effects of so-called recreational drug use.

We hope that P-H-M families and adult members of the community are able to attend this very important education session.

Due to the nature of the discussion, children of any age are not permitted at the parent session the evening of Tuesday, October 21. Moore will present a student focused presentation to Penn students (grades 9-12) during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.

Livestream

Check back on this page for the livestreamed video. It will be embedded in this page: phmexcellence.com/DrugAwareness

This morning, the entire Bittersweet Elementary School community came together at Everwise Freed Field for the official “Rush to the Goal”  Walk-a-Thon. Students from every grade level walked around the track as part of the school’s first major fundraiser of the year to support the Bittersweet PTO.

The Walk-a-Thon is more than just a fun event, it is an opportunity for students, staff, and families to rally together to support programs and activities that enhance student learning and school experiences. All proceeds stay within the school, helping fund PTO-sponsored initiatives that contribute directly to academic success and enrichment opportunities for Bittersweet students.

In the weeks leading up to today’s event, students reached out to family, friends, and neighbors for pledges.

Thank you to everyone who contributed and participated in this year’s Walk-a-Thon. Your generosity makes a difference for Bittersweet students!

Click Here to see the full photo gallery!

This morning, fourth grade students in Mrs. Kornrumph’s class had the opportunity to become scientists for the day by dissecting owl pellets.

What are Owl Pellets?

• Pellets are the undigested parts of a bird’s food, such as hair or bones.
• Owl pellets are not droppings (faeces/poo) – and they do not smell!
• Unlike droppings, pellets are not waste and they don’t smell, making them safe for classroom investigation.
• Dissecting pellets are a great way to see what makes up an owl’s diet

During the dissection, students carefully pulled apart the pellets to uncover tiny bones and skulls from small mammals like mice, the most common prey of owls. In some cases, owl pellets can hold the remains of up to six small animals, offering an incredible look into the food chain.

The activity not only sparked curiosity but also helped students strengthen their observation and recording skills. Each student had a worksheet where they could put items that they found to discuss it later.

Hands-on lessons like this bring science to life, encouraging students to ask questions, make discoveries, and deepen their understanding of the natural world.

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.

This year’s home opener will be “The Backyard Brawl” against Mishawaka on Friday, August 29th, 2025. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:00 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza.

Friday night marks the 67th meeting between Penn and Mishawaka. Penn leads the all-time series 49-16-1. 

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.

Penn-Harris-Madison invites students, families, alumni, and community members to celebrate Homecoming 2025 on Friday, September 26, 2025 courtesy of the PHM Education Foundation.

The annual celebration includes the Homecoming Parade on Bittersweet Road in front of Penn High School, showcasing student groups, athletic teams, school clubs, and community organizations, followed by the Penn Kingsmen football game against South Bend Adams at Everwise Freed Field.

This is an event for the ENTIRE community and will have activities for people of all ages. Mark your calendars and plan to join in the fun! More details will be shared closer to the date.

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. 

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2025 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students once again outperformed the state average by an impressive 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This achievement places P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations across Indiana (see the charts below).

“These results reflect the exceptional work of our teachers, students, and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, and this data shows that our efforts are paying off.”

P-H-M has maintained its Top 4% ranking for a second consecutive year, a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the strategies that drive student success. Out of Indiana public schools that passed both ELA and Math, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10; and Discovery Middle School is #3 in the state.

A closer analysis of the data shows strong gains across grade levels and student groups. Middle school students, in particular, demonstrated significant improvement in math, based on the state’s 2021 benchmark. P-H-M 8th grade Math performance is up 24% since the benchmark year and now the variance over the state average is 28%.

The district’s Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) student population, which now exceeds 30%, continues to demonstrate notable progress. Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing close to 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of F/R students passing both ELA and Math.

“These achievements are not by accident,” added Dr. Short. “They are the result of intentional investments in teacher professional development and the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. We are fortunate to have educators and staff who are deeply committed to supporting every learner.”

Indiana junior high school students are now required to take the SAT for graduation. The IDOE also released SAT results. Among public high schools in pass percentage, Penn High School moved up from #27 last year, to #15 this year.

Results from the Spring 2025 IREAD assessment are expected to be released in early fall, and P-H-M looks forward to sharing those outcomes as well.

ILEARN Math

ILEARN ELA

Retiring P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, incoming Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Principal Shonda Masterson, incoming Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lavon Dean-Null, and Literacy Director Ryan Towner stopped by to surprise Miss Betsy Alwine with a big honor before the end of the school year.

P-H-M Dyslexia Specialist Miss Alwine earned an IMPACT award for completing 70 LETRS sessions this year! Miss Alwine helped more than 280 P-H-M teachers to earn their literacy endorsement. The science of reading is a teaching method that emphasizes the use of phonics in reading instruction.

When Drs. Thacker and Short caught up with Miss Alwine at Bittersweet to surprise her with the Award, she was reading to students. They were excited for Miss Alwine and joined in on the celebration!