Penn’s Josiah Parker named Indiana Assistant Principal of the Year
Penn High School Assistant Principal Josiah Parker has been named the 2025 State Assistant Principal of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP).
“We are incredibly proud of Mr. Parker for being named the Indiana Assistant Principal of the Year,” Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher said. “Josiah is a dedicated and committed colleague who works diligently to ensure we create engaging and authentic learning experiences for our students. Penn is a better place as a result of his creativity and commitment to all students and staff.”
Photo Gallery posted below.
Parker, who has been at Penn since 2014, was named District Assistant Principal of District 2 prior to the state honor.
District Assistant Principals of the Year are elected by their peers from 12 districts in Indiana.
Parker was one of the leaders of the heralded “Hand Of Grace” project in which Penn Robotics students created a prosthetic arm for a third-grade Madison Elementary student using 3-D printer technology.
He has been Penn’s point person strengthening the high school’s connection to the community, including helping to organize Penn’s annual College and Career Fair at Penn with the P-H-M Education Foundation.
“Community engagement has been the core of my educational philosophy,” Parker said. “This was introduced to me by my mentor and high school architecture teacher Mickey Schulze. The impact those experiences had in my life and building on those as an educator have proven again and again the importance of connecting our school to our community.”
Working with the South Bend Regional Chamber on the Work Based Learning Collaborative, Educator Externships, Career focused content creation (Manufacturing, Construction Trades, Healthcare), Parker works to make connections with community partners to expand real world career opportunities available to Penn students. Some of Parker’s other community connections include:
- South Bend Career Center Planning Committee, Elkhart Area Career Center Advisory Board, Ivy Tech Advisory Board and the creation of the Penn Partnership Team (Advisory Board)
- State and National work as an Indiana High School Education Committee member for CEMETS iLab (bringing the Swiss apprenticeship model to Indiana), a member of the US Chamber of Commerce’s TPM Academy of Indiana (advancing workforce development), Member of The 75 Million Network of Jobs for the Future (job placement and job quality)
Parker was also involved in the Innovation Challenge (local schools design innovations for groups in the community like ADEC, Lime Bike, Sibley Machining) and Mission to Engineering (creating unique designs for individuals in need like Voice for Braylen, Engineering Ella, Innovations for Isaiah, Connecting with Cooper, Project Rubber Ducky, Scooter Assist, and Zephan’s Magic Wheelchair Hulk project).
Penn wins $25,000 grant from Indiana DOE for Data-Driven Support
Penn High School has received another Excellence in Education Award from the Indiana Department of Education.
Recently, the Penn Administration learned that Penn earned the Excellence in Data-Driven Support Award and a grant of $25,000. The award was presented at the IDOE’s Educational Excellence Award Gala on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025.
The award recognizes the school that has made the most progress in improving achievement for all students. Penn won the award for its increased academic achievement for students as indicated by ILEARN English/Language Arts/Mathematics assessment results, prioritization of initiatives focused on accelerating learning, and implementation of progress monitoring and evidenced-based practices for students in need of extra support.
This is Penn’s second IDOE Educational Excellence Award. In 2023, the IDOE honored Penn with the Excellence in College Readiness Award along with a $250,000 grant.
“Winning the Excellence in Data-Driven Support Award is a reflection of the incredible teamwork that happens every day at Penn,” Penn Principal Dr. Sean Galiher said. “Our teachers, staff, and students have embraced the idea that using data is about understanding each student and helping them reach their full potential. This award means a lot to our school community because it recognizes the care, intentionality, and dedication that drive our work to make sure every learner has the opportunity to succeed.”
Penn’s commitment to Excellence in Data-Driven Support is reflected in measurable growth across multiple indicators of student success. By intentionally aligning efforts around progress monitoring, evidence-based practices, and accelerated learning opportunities, Penn has elevated achievement for students at all levels. Penn’s targeted Advanced Placement (AP) and SAT preparation has yielded clear improvements in both participation and performance, while the AP program continues to grow in both the number of students served and the individual success of those students.
Penn leads the state in dual-credit attainment. Equally important, Penn is committed to ensuring students on free and reduced lunch and students with an IEP make meaningful growth across benchmarks, underscoring our belief that every learner can thrive when given the right support. Together, these achievements demonstrate Penn’s relentless focus on using data to guide decisions, support student needs, and ensure that every learner has access to rigorous, high-quality opportunities that prepare them for the future.
Penn High School boasts a robust plan to ensure that all students are given the best possible opportunity for growth and success on standardized assessments, including Biology iLearn, PSAT/NMSQT, school-day SAT, and AP Exams.
Focused preparation for the PSAT & SAT begins in ninth grade for all students. Ninth, 10th, and 11th graders participate in a minimum of two benchmark assessments, using the paid Progress Learning (formerly Horizon Education) platform. In addition, they take the PSAT 8/9 in the Spring of freshman year, and the PSAT/NMSQT in the Fall of sophomore and junior years.
Since implementing data-driven learning supports, Penn’s number of National Merit Scholars has increased from six to an anticipated 15 this year. Schoolwide SAT results also reflect growth as a result of efforts to accelerate learning. Forty percent of Penn juniors met the benchmark in math in the first year of the digital format, which increased to 43% in 2025. Even more impressive, Penn’s English-based reading and writing results increased from 65% to 72% of students meeting the benchmark last school year. The percentage of Penn students who met the benchmark on both parts of the SAT was 19% higher than the Indiana state average.
In 2023, 7.9%, 7.9% and 14.5% of students with an IEP passed both Math, and the English portions of the SAT respectively. In 2025, 8.5%, 11.3% and 23.9% passed both Math and the English portions of the SAT, reflecting an improvement across each data point. This growth moved Penn High school from ranking No. 27 in 2024 to No. 15 in 2025 when compared to other public school corporations in the state of Indiana.
AP participation grew from 639 students (1,289 exams) in 2021 to 873 students (1,791 exams) in 2025. Success rates rose from 60% to 83%, nearly doubling the number of students scoring a 3+ (385 to 724) which demonstrates significant growth in the number of students participating in this challenging level of coursework, necessitating varying levels of support. Most importantly, students who are on free and reduced lunch participating in an AP course at Penn High School have more than doubled in the last 5 years from 50 students in 2021 to 108 students in 2025. Additionally, 55 of the exams taken by free/reduced students in 2021 scored a 3+ with 142 exams receiving this same score in 2025.
In Penn’s most recent accreditation review in 2023, the Cognia evaluation team affirmed that “Leadership is unwavering in its commitment to all parents, community members, and most importantly, the students. Learners’ well-being is at the heart of all decisions the organization makes.”
This commitment, paired with Penn’s use of evidence-based practices, progress monitoring systems, and inclusive course design, has positioned Penn as a model of data-driven support where equity and achievement go hand in hand. As a result, in September of that school year, Penn was named a Cognia School of Distinction. Cognia is a global nonprofit school improvement organization accrediting 40,000 schools across 90 countries, yet only 96 schools worldwide received this distinction and Penn High School was one of them, the only high school in Indiana to earn this prestigious recognition that year.
Penn Theatre earns top spot at Thespians Regional contest
Penn Marching Kingsmen to perform at Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade
The Penn High School Marching Kingsmen will perform at the 6abc Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 27).
The parade, known as the nation’s first Thanksgiving Parade, is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m.
The parade will be LiveStreamed on Hulu, Disney+ and 6abc.com
Penn’s marching band will perform “Santa’s Parade” and “Strike Up The Band”.
Mere Schneider, Julie Rice, Dakota Bengtsson, Addison Singleton and Conner Hes serve as the Marching Kingsmen drum majors.
D.J. Landoll serves as the Band Director, with Sabin Martinez and Aaron Griesser the assistant directors.
The Penn Marching Kingsmen have placed in the Indiana State Finals Contest 21 times and have been a Bands of America Regional Finalist five times. The band has also performed in the Orange Bowl Parade, the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, in addition to the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Penn Theatre presents “A Seussified Christmas Carol” Nov. 13-15
Penn Theatre presents the fall play production, “A Seussified Christmas Carol.”
A Photo Gallery is posted below.
Shows are Thursday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. Performances are in the Studio Theater. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased online at HomeTown Ticketing or at the door.
Written by Peter Bloedel, “A Seussified Christmas Carol” is the classic story of Scrooge meeting ghosts who show him the value of goodwill unto all and caring for his fellow man… all in the rhyming and silly language of Dr. Seuss!
Audience members are encouraged to get in the spirit and dress up in Seuss or Holiday wear.
Penn celebrates NCAA signing Day
Penn High School celebrated 16 student-athletes who signed to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025.
Penn-Harris-Madison Supt. Dr. Heather Short, Penn Principal Dr. Sean Galiher and Athletic Director Jeff Hart honors the students and their families at a ceremony in Penn’s Main Arena.
A Photo Gallery is posted below.
| Student | University | Sport | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brody Cashen | Anderson University | Baseball | Greg Dikos |
| Bennett Hartford | Hillsdale College | Baseball | Greg Dikos |
| Max LaFleur | Wisconsin-Platteville | Baseball | Greg Dikos |
| Cayden Stockbridge | Purdue University | Baseball | Greg Dikos |
| Corbin O’Hara | Grace College | Golf | Al Hartman |
| Eliott Loiseau | University of Notre Dame | Fencing | |
| Anna Sachire | Washington U./St. Louis | Basketball | Kristi Ulrich |
| Natalia Garcia-Souffront | Ball State University | Soccer | Jeff Hart |
| Lexi Leader | University of St. Francis | Soccer | Jeff Hart |
| Rowan Moore | Northern Illinois Univ. | Soccer | |
| Piper Thomas | Saint Mary’s College | Soccer | Jeff Hart |
| Alayna Riggins | Purdue University | Swimming | John VanDriessche |
| Caitlyn Denny | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | Softball | Beth Zachary |
| Logan Rumble | Northwestern University | Softball | Beth Zachary |
| Phoebe Wood | Taylor University | Softball | Beth Zachary |
| Vinny Freeman | Cornell University | Wrestling | Brad Harper |
Penn Marching Kingsmen place ninth at State
Penn High School’s marching band, the Marching Kingsmen, placed ninth in the state at the ISSMA State Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025.
A Photo Gallery is posted below.
Avon placed first in the event.
Penn qualified for the State Finals for the first time since 2019.
Penn students and staff put in about 300 after-school rehearsal hours during the marching band season. Nearly100 parents volunteered in some capacity, often taking on large managerial roles.
The Marching Kingsmen also placed in the finals of the Bands of America Northwest Ohio Regional this season.
Penn’s performances this season have included:
- “Don’t Speak” by Gwen and Eric Stefani
- “Symphony no. 10” by Dmitri Shostakovich
- “Heart-Shaped Box” by Kurt Cobain
- “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Mussorgsky
D.J. Landoll serves as the Band Director, with Sabin Martinez and Aaron Griesser the assistant directors.
The Penn Marching Kingsmen have placed in the Indiana State Finals Contest 21 times and have been a Bands of America Regional Finalist five times. The band has also performed in the Orange Bowl Parade, the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, the Tournament of Roses Parade, and the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, which they will attend once again this November.
Penn Showcase 2025 set for Monday, Dec. 1
Penn Showcase has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 6-8 p.m.
Penn High School, one of Indiana’s premier high schools, will feature its outstanding learning opportunities and programs for prospective and current students at the 2025 Penn High School Showcase from 6-8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 1, 2025. The snow date is set for 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 2.
Click here for more detailed information about the Showcase and attending Penn High School.
The Showcase allows incoming Freshmen (current Eighth Graders) and prospective move-ins, along with their families, to have the opportunity to tour Penn, meet with staff and students, and hear about all the college and career readiness opportunities Penn offers through its eight Academies. There will also be opportunities to observe live classroom activities and get information on Penn’s student clubs.
All prospective Penn students and current Penn 9-11 graders and their families are welcome to join us to learn about classes and clubs they can look forward to as Penn students.
Penn celebrates record number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists
Penn High School Principal Dr. Sean Galiher announced that a school-record 15 Penn students have earned National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist status.
Sreeja Bhattacharjee, Mehreen Buchh, Balthasar Cammett, Madeline Dunn, Connor Geoghegan, Zachary Girton, Quinn Hayden, Wasif Javed, Sultaan Khan, Trenton Mager, Ishita Masetty, Leo Ni, Joshua Oh, Roman Ramos and Grant Spadafore are the academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.
“We are incredibly proud of our 15 National Merit Semifinalists whose academic excellence reflects years of dedication, curiosity, and a deep commitment to learning,” Dr. Galiher said. “This milestone celebrates not only the exceptional talent of our students but also the collective effort of our teachers, families, and the Penn community that continues to foster a culture of excellence and engagement where all students can thrive.”
More than 1.3 million juniors in about 20,000 high schools entered the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. From over 16,000 Semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to the Finalist level, and in February they will be notified of this designation.
Penn celebrates National Custodian Appreciation Day
Penn recently celebrated National Custodian Appreciation Day, grateful for all that our custodians do to support our students, staff and families.
Penn-Harris-Madison Supt. Dr. Heather Short said that Custodians do far more than keep our buildings clean and safe. They’re the first to arrive and often the last to leave, ensuring our schools are welcoming spaces where students can learn and staff can do their best work. Their care, dedication, and hard work often go unseen, but the impact is felt every day in every classroom and hallway.
