Penn High School Teachers Recognized for Outstanding AP Student Achievement

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation is proud to celebrate two Penn High School educators, AP U.S. History teacher Keith O’Connell and AP Language and Composition teacher Julie Huxford, for their continued success in helping students excel in Advanced Placement coursework.

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short and Penn Principal Rachel Fry surprised O’Connell and Huxford with the P-H-M Teacher Impact Award recognition. Both teachers had the highest percentage of students earning a score of 3 or higher on their respective AP exams last year, demonstrating the impact of strong instruction, high expectations, and a commitment to student growth.

O’Connell and Huxford collaborate as co-teachers for a seminar class, allowing students to benefit from their combined expertise in historical analysis, reading comprehension, discussion, and argumentation. Their partnership helps create a cohesive academic experience that supports students across disciplines and strengthens overall achievement.

Beyond individual classroom success, Penn’s AP performance data shows a clear upward trend compared to state averages:

• AP U.S. History results have improved from -1% to +8% compared to statewide scores over the past three years.

• AP Language and Composition results have increased from +11% to +18% compared to state results during the same period.

These gains reflect a consistent emphasis on critical thinking, analytical writing, and deep content understanding, skills that prepare students not only for AP exams, but also for future college and career success.

The P-H-M Teacher Impact Award is presented each semester to teachers whose students show the greatest academic growth, highlighting excellence in teaching and learning across the district.

Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for providing the beautiful engraved awards that the teachers keep in their classrooms as a reminder of what they and their students accomplished.

All P-H-M Impact Award Winners will be recognized for their outstanding student growth at the next School Board Meeting on Monday, March 16 at Meadow’s Edge Elementary School.

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