Penn Spanish Teacher Surprised as 2026 Secondary Teacher of the Year
What started as a typical first block this morning in Señora Kelley Watts’ Spanish IV class quickly turned into a surprise party when Spanish teacher Kelley Watts unexpectedly learned that she was being named Penn-Harris-Madison’s 2026 Secondary Teacher of the Year.
With some behind-the-scenes planning by Principal Rachel Fry and Associate Principal Jeanie Mitchell, Watts was called away from her classroom for what she thought was a photo opp with students in Penn’s Main Arena–on the other side of the building away from her classroom. While Watts was being kept busy, P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lavon Dean-Null, other P-H-M administrators, and local TV station news crews snuck into Watts’ classroom to get everything in place for the big surprise. Click to see a photo gallery below. Click here to see the full gallery on Canto.
When Watts returned, she was met with applause, cameras, and the big news that she was P-H-M’s Secondary Teacher of the Year.
Click below to watch the video of the surprise for Señora Watts.
Throughout her career, Watts has demonstrated a deep commitment to student learning, leadership, and building meaningful connections both inside and outside the classroom. She brings 30 years of teaching experience, including 22 years at Penn High School. In addition to her classroom role, Watts has led student initiatives, including serving as the Kingsmen Against Cancer sponsor for more than eight years.
She serves as an instructional coach and is an active leader in the P-H-M Teachers Association, where she advocates for both students and staff. As a mentor to fellow educators, she is an example of continuous growth and collaboration. She also serves alongside her husband, Mark, as co-head coach of the Boys Volleyball team, now in its second season. Click here to read a recent article in the South Bend Tribune, featuring the Watts’, about the growth and rise in popularity of boys volleyball as a new IHSAA sanctioned sport.
Teaching and coaching colleague Eric Bowers nominated Watts for the honor. Bowers understands firsthand what it takes to excel in both the classroom and in athletics. Bowers, an AP History teacher and Penn’s Boys and Girls Tennis coach was named P-H-M’s 2023 Secondary Teacher of the Year.
“Kelley has a unique ability to connect with students not only in the classroom, but through opportunities like Spanish Club [which she led in previous years] and now through coaching as well,” Bowers said. “She reaches a wide range of students and creates meaningful relationships that extend beyond the school day.”
Known for her engaging and supportive teaching style, Watts creates learning environments where students feel confident to take risks and grow. One example is her Spanish II “Yelp Review” writing unit, where students progress from foundational language skills to composing six-paragraph essays entirely in Spanish.
“My favorite level of Spanish to teach is Level 2. When they enter my class, they have made the choice to continue learning Spanish, which already reflects a level of commitment,” Watts reflected. “Level 2 of any language is often the most challenging, and I enjoy pushing students to reach levels of learning and understanding that they initially believe are beyond their capabilities.”
Watts has created educational opportunities for her Penn Spanish students to engage in authentic conversations, build global connections, and apply their language skills in real-world settings. Through a month-long cultural exchange experience, she brought Ecuadorian students studying in the United States to Penn to spend several weeks alongside her students, immersing the international students in English instruction and American culture, while also giving her students the opportunity to learn directly from native Spanish speakers and experience authentic cultural exchange.
Principal Rachel Fry said Watts exemplifies the very best of Penn High School.
“Kelley Watts represents what it means to be an exceptional educator,” Fry said. “She builds strong relationships with students, challenges them to achieve at high levels, and creates meaningful learning experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. Her leadership and commitment to excellence make a lasting impact on our entire school community.”
Watts’ love for language has permeated down to benefit P-H-M’s elementary and middle school students as well. Watts was involved in the creation of P-H-M’s Summer Visual Arts Academy, a week-long summer enrichment program that integrates music, art, and culture. One of the first years the VAA included Spanish language instruction, for which Watts helped develop the curriculum. She’s also been involved with the district’s summer week-long Language Academy camps for elementary and middle school students, with a different language featured each year.
Superintendent Dr. Heather Short has seen the impact Watts has on students over the years.
“Kelley’s impact is felt across our entire district,” Dr. Short said. “She is deeply committed to helping students at every level develop a love of language and culture, and she creates meaningful learning experiences that inspire curiosity and connection in all of our learners.”
Every Spring P-H-M honors a Secondary Teacher of the Year, Elementary Teacher of the Year and a Certified Employee of the Year. All three honorees are officially recognized at P-H-M’s annual Employee Recognition & Retiree Dinner, which will be held this year on Wednesday, May 20th. The two Teachers of the Year will then go on to compete for Indiana’s Teacher of the Year, which will be announced Fall 2026 by the Indiana Department of Education. The PHM Education Foundation awards each Teacher of the Year a $1,000 grant and gift card to the Employee of the Year.
Penn Associate Principal Jeanie Mitchell Named to Michiana Forty Under 40
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
Penn Named Among U.S. News 2026 “Best High Schools” for Indiana
U.S. News and World Report released its “Best Schools” rankings for public K-8 and high schools.
They ranked the best public high schools by state. Out of Indiana’s 395 public high schools, Penn ranked #26.
Data is based on the 2021–2022, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 school years.
They also examined Indiana’s 989 elementary schools and 483 middle schools.
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:
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.
Drug Awareness Parent Community Meeting
P-H-M is hosting a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting 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. This event is open to all Parents/Guardians of all grade levels, K-12, and all families in the community are invited and encouraged to attend.
The session will be 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.
We hope that P-H-M families and adult members of the community are able to attend this very important education session.
Due to the nature of the discussion, children of any age are not permitted at the parent session the evening of Tuesday, October 21. Moore will present a student focused presentation to Penn students (grades 9-12) during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.
Livestream
Check back on this page for the livestreamed video. It will be embedded in this page: phmexcellence.com/DrugAwareness
This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party
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.
P-H-M Students Excel on Spring 2025 ILEARN
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2025 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students once again outperformed the state average by an impressive 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. This achievement places P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations across Indiana (see the charts below).
“These results reflect the exceptional work of our teachers, students, and staff,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, and this data shows that our efforts are paying off.”
P-H-M has maintained its Top 4% ranking for a second consecutive year, a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the strategies that drive student success. Out of Indiana public schools that passed both ELA and Math, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10; and Discovery Middle School is #3 in the state.
A closer analysis of the data shows strong gains across grade levels and student groups. Middle school students, in particular, demonstrated significant improvement in math, based on the state’s 2021 benchmark. P-H-M 8th grade Math performance is up 24% since the benchmark year and now the variance over the state average is 28%.
The district’s Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) student population, which now exceeds 30%, continues to demonstrate notable progress. Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing close to 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of F/R students passing both ELA and Math.
“These achievements are not by accident,” added Dr. Short. “They are the result of intentional investments in teacher professional development and the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. We are fortunate to have educators and staff who are deeply committed to supporting every learner.”
Indiana junior high school students are now required to take the SAT for graduation. The IDOE also released SAT results. Among public high schools in pass percentage, Penn High School moved up from #27 last year, to #15 this year.
Results from the Spring 2025 IREAD assessment are expected to be released in early fall, and P-H-M looks forward to sharing those outcomes as well.
| Metric | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHM | 71% | 65% | 65% | 52% | 57% | 63% |
| State | 52% | 50% | 42% | 40% | 36% | 35% |
| Variance | +19% | +15% | +23% | +12% | +21% | +28% |
| Metric | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHM | 60% | 55% | 64% | 57% | 56% | 64% |
| State | 41% | 42% | 41% | 41% | 38% | 43% |
| Variance | +19% | +13% | +23% | +16% | +18% | +21% |
Night School Class of 2025 Commencement & Photo Gallery
Congratulations to the Penn Night School Class of 2025!
On Tuesday, June 10, Penn Night School graduates had the opportunity to cross the stage during commencement excercises in front of their family and friends and receive their high school diploma.
To see the full Penn Night School Graduation photo gallery click here.
The ceremony was held in the Bengtsson Center for Performing Arts at Penn High School. Officiating the ceremony were P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, Penn Principal Dr. Sean Galiher and Pennway Night School Director Brad Boyd.
The Night School program provides coursework for adults toward completion of a high school diploma, not a GED, regardless of residency. To qualify a student must be beyond their expected graduation year as defined by the Indiana Department of Education, and between the ages of 18-22. Click here to learn more about the Penn Night School Program.
Class of 2025 Commencement Photo Gallery & Video Archive
On Monday, June 9, 2025, Penn High School graduated approximately 852 members of the Class of 2025! Click here for information on this remarkable class responsible for $22 million in scholarships!
Penn-Harris-Madison’s District and Penn High School Communications staff are pleased to offer a video archive of the Commencement Ceremony and a photo gallery from this memorable night. Click here for a PDF of the Commencement Program.
Click below to view the photo gallery of candids taken at Commencement and before.
phmexcellence.com/PhotosClassof2025
The photos are FREE to download. While we try to capture as many graduates as possible, unfortunately it’s not possible to get everyone, but we hope you enjoy this complimentary service.
* Please note Inter-State Photography takes individual pictures of every senior with their diplomas and Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker.
Those pictures are available for purchase through this Inter-State Photography website, https://cpinterstatestudio.
Corin Sailor and Meredith Courteau Win Teacher IMPACT Awards
Retiring P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker, incoming Superintendent Dr. Heather Short, Principal Amy Fadorsen, incoming Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lavon Dean-Null, and Literacy Director Ryan Towner stopped by Horizon on Monday, June 2nd to surprise a couple of our teachers with a big honor for all their hard work with students: Corin Sailor and Meredith Courteau.
Penn 9th gr. Biology teacher Meredith Courteau danced for joy after learning she won an IMPACT award because her students had the highest percentage of students reaching proficiency in all Penn’s Biology I class. This is Ms. Courteau’s first year teaching at Penn!
