News

In March, Superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Dr. Jerry Thacker announced his retirement after 19 years. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, P-H-M has achieved extraordinary milestones, including raising the graduation rate from 79% to 98%, ranking in the top 4% of the state academically, and helping students earn more than $200 million in scholarships. He also prioritized school safety, leading P-H-M to be ranked sixth in ...

Dr. Jerry Thacker is proud and delighted that the Board of School Trustees appointed Dr. Heather Short this week to succeed him as superintendent upon his retirement. From Dr. Heather Short: As the incoming Superintendent, I am thrilled to recommend Dr. Lavon Dean-Null to succeed me as the next Assistant Superintendent for Instruction. In addition, I am also recommending Dr. Mindy Higginson as the next ...

In a special meeting held Tuesday, May 27, the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees unanimously (7-0) approved the appointment of Dr. Heather Short as the district’s next superintendent effective July 1, 2025. Nearly 50 P-H-M teachers, administrators, staff, family and friends showed up to express their overwhelming support of Dr. Short's appointment. Dr. Short, a lifelong educator who has dedicated her entire 31-year career to ...

The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced today (Friday, May 23) that Northpoint is among the 16 schools newly named STEM Certified Schools--certified leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education! Our school completed a rigorous application and review process, which must be repeated every five years to remain certified Click here for more information on the IDOE’s STEM Certification process. Click here to ...

Northpoint Elementary 3rd grade students have been learning about life cycles in a hands-on way. Thanks to the generosity of a Northpoint parent who owns a farm, fertilized chicken eggs were donated to the classrooms. Over the past few weeks, students carefully weighed and monitored the eggs while keeping them in incubators. This week, the chicks began to hatch. After hatching, the chicks were moved ...

For the 12th consecutive year, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation was named among the 2025’s Best Communities for Music Education (​BCME) in the country by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation! P-H-M has received this recognition more than any other school district in Indiana! This year NAMM has named 935 school districts as the nation's Best Communities for Music Education, and P-H-M is one of ...

The annual one mile run for P-H-M fourth and fifth graders is held at Penn’s Cross-country course, which is located behind Elm Road Elementary School. The race is sponsored by P-H-M’s Education Foundation, This event encourages fitness, healthy choices and wellness. Fourth and fifth graders, from all 11 P-H-M elementary schools are encouraged to sign up for the free running club. Designated coaches at each ...

Running is Elementary will be held Monday, April 28 (Rain Day is Wed., April 30) at Elm Road Elementary School, 59400 Elm Rd, Mishawaka. Introductions will begin at 2:50 p.m. 5th Grade Girls - 3:00 p.m. 5th Grade Boys - 3:20 p.m. 4th Grade Girls - 3:40 p.m. 4th Grade Boys - 4:00 p.m. Limited parking is available at Elm Road School. Overflow parking is ...

As a reminder, the last day of school for students is Thursday, June 5, 2025. This is one day earlier than previously scheduled. Due to the absence of local, state, or national elections on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, all P-H-M schools were in session and no longer had a Recess Day on this date. P-H-M Teachers Association worked collaboratively with the District Administration to make ...

Ongoing issues from yesterday’s storm (Sunday, March 30, 2025) still persist, having an impact across our area and school district, and also resulted in P-H-M Administration calling for an eLearning today, Monday, March 31st. Tens of thousands of households and businesses are still without power, and numerous travel hazards remain throughout the district and are actively being addressed. Northpoint and Mary Frank Elementary Schools are ...