Mrs. Rachel Fry Named Penn High School’s New Principal

At the Monday, December 8th Penn-Harris-Madison School Board Meeting, Mrs. Rachel Fry was approved to serve as Penn High School’s next principal. Dr. Sean Galiher was approved to move into the district’s Chief Operations Officer role.

Mrs. Fry has served as Penn’s Associate Principal since 2016. She brings a strong academic background to the role, including her experience in mathematics instruction and curriculum development. She has supported instructional leadership, strengthened academic programming, and built strong relationships with students, staff, and families. Her deep understanding of Penn, combined with her commitment to excellence, will support continued growth, stability, and achievement at the high school.

When Superintendent Dr. Heather Short recommended Mrs. Fry for the position, Mrs. Fry shared the message below with Penn families and staff.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve Penn High School as principal. Penn has been my professional family for many years, and I hold tremendous pride in the achievements, traditions, and spirit that define our school. My journey here has prepared me well for this role. I began my career teaching special education before dedicating a decade to high school mathematics. I’ve been fortunate to learn from incredible mentors throughout my career, who have shaped my growth as an instructional leader through experiences as an Instructional Coach, Academy Leader, and Associate Principal. 

Penn has flourished under Dr. Galiher’s leadership, and I am fortunate to have learned from him these last nine years. I look forward to deepening the relationships we’ve built, supporting the incredible work happening in our classrooms, and partnering with the Penn community to advance the vision of excellence. I admire the remarkable dedication of Penn’s students, staff, and families, and I am truly humbled by the trust placed in me to lead our continued success. 

On a personal note, my husband, Lucas, is a Class of 1999 graduate of Penn, and we are very proud to be raising two future Kingsmen:  Cooper, a sixth grader at Discovery Middle School, and Laney, a first grader at Horizon Elementary School.

I am eager and excited to begin this new chapter with all of you.

Warm Regards,
Rachel Fry