The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees voted unanimously this morning to appoint Mrs. Jennifer (Jen) Smoker to fill the Penn Township Seat #1 vacancy created by the resignation of Matthew Chaffee in early October. 

A long-time resident and active community volunteer, Mrs. Smoker is a dedicated P-H-M parent of four children attending district schools. Her service and advocacy for students and staff have been felt across the district and throughout the greater community.

Mrs. Smoker currently serves on the P-H-M Education Foundation (PHMEF) Board of Directors, where she has chaired the Grants Committee since 2019. In that role, she helps oversee the process of awarding teacher and school grants that enhance learning, spark innovation, and promote excellence in all 15 P-H-M schools. She also supports PHMEF’s fundraising events and community partnerships that benefit students across the district.

Beyond her PHMEF service, Mrs. Smoker is deeply involved in several community organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for Granger Community Church, where she helps guide strategic planning and budget oversight; chairs the Grissom Middle School PTO Scholarship Committee, which awards scholarships to Penn High School seniors; and previously served as Board Secretary for Jr. Irish Soccer Club and Development Chair for Girls on the Run Michiana. Through these roles, she has combined her love of youth development, leadership, and service—supporting programs that build character, confidence, and connection.

Professionally, Mrs. Smoker brings two decades of business leadership and creative experience. A graduate of Miami University’s Farmer School of Business, she began her career as an Account Executive for major advertising firms in Detroit and Chicago, managing national brands such as Lincoln/Mercury and Quaker Oats. In 2003, she founded and operated CardCare.com, an online greeting card company she successfully led for 20 years.

“Mrs. Smoker’s commitment to servant leadership and her deep connection to our schools make her an outstanding addition to the Board,” said Board President Christopher Riley. “She has demonstrated her heart for P-H-M through years of volunteerism and community involvement and will bring a strong parent perspective to the table.”

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short added, “Jen’s energy, insight, and collaborative leadership reflect the very best of P-H-M’s Triangle of Success—students, teachers, and parents working together. Her service to our schools and community exemplifies P-H-M Excellence.”

Arrangements will be made with the P-H-M Board Attorney for Mrs. Smoker to take her Oath of Office. She will serve through the remainder of the current term, which expires in 2026. She may choose to run for election to the ensuing four-year term in the November 2026 general election.

Mrs. Smoker was chosen from five applicants. The other four candidates were John “Todd” Douthit, Brandon M. Kastner, William “Matt” Ludwig, and Ryan C. Woodruff (click here for their resumes). Public interviews of these applicants took place during a special board meeting held Tuesday, October 28th. President Riley said the decision to fill the vacancy was a difficult one, as all five candidates would have been excellent choices.

Click here for the process the Board of School Trustees followed for filling the vacancies.

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

P-H-M’s ENL Department is hosting their annual Community Connections Fair on Saturday, November 1st.

Join us for activities, arts & crafts, food, performances, and to learn about resources in our community. It is completely FREE and all P-H-M families are invited to attend. Click here to see photos on Facebook of past Fairs.

For any families that want to sign up to perform, please click here to fill out the Google form.

P-H-M hosted a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting on Tuesday October, 21, 2025 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, click the image above to watch the recorded video of the presentation. It will only be available until end of business day Thursday, Nov. 20th.

The session was 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.

Click here to access Melissa Moore’s resources referenced in her presentation.

Questions can be directed to the presenter at .

Moore also presented a student focused presentation to Penn students (grades 9-12) during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.

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.