Dr. Jerry Thacker, Superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, recently learned that the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents (IAPSS) named him the IAPSS 2017 Outstanding Educator. 

The public announcement of Dr. Thacker’s recognition will be made at P-H-M Education Foundation’s annual Superintendent’s Luncheon to be held Tuesday, October 17.

This is the second time Dr. Thacker has received this prestigious honor from his IAPSS peers; the first time was in 2013. He was also named Indiana Superintendent of the Year in 2012 and received the Sagamore of the Wabash in 2014—Indiana’s highest award—from then Governor Mike Pence. He has also been recognized as Alumnus of the Year from both IUSB and Bethel College.

Dr. Jerry Thacker began his career in education in Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation as a 6th grade teacher at Madison Elementary School. Having filled a variety of leadership roles at districts across Indiana and Michigan, in July 2006 he returned to the P-H-M schools to serve as superintendent. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, the Indiana Department of Education has consistently named P-H-M an “A” Rated School District. The School Corporation now ranks in the state’s top 4% of public school districts with nine Four Star Schools.

No. 1-ranked Penn overcame Northridge and tough playing conditions to post a 4-0 victory against the Raiders on Saturday, Oct. 14, and advance to the Regional Championship match.

Heavy rains and lightning forced the postponement of the Championship Game to Monday, Oct. 16. The game is set for 7 p.m. at South Bend's Tallman-Beyrer Field at the School Field complex.

Penn (20-0-1) will play No.  11 Munster (14-3-2) for the Regional Championship. Penn beat Munster 2-0 in the regular season.

Kristina Lynch stung Northridge with a pair of goals, including a sensational lunging header.

Molly McLaughlin scored off an assist by Lynch.

Riley Chapla scored Penn's fourth goal on a header off a corner from Lynch.

Penn’s Dani Spring lunged across the finish line to edge Elkhart Memorial’s Morgan Dyer to win the Elkhart Cross Country Regional Championship individual title, and lead the Kingsmen to the team title on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Spring led a Kingsmen contingent that placed five runners in the Top 19.

Penn’s Regional Championship is the 17th in Program history, and fourth in the past five seasons.

Spring finished in 18:53.8, a half-second ahead of Dyer.

Lauren Frank finished in fourth for the Kingsmen, running the 5K course in 19:25.48.

Brooke Neal placed 10th in 19:50.10.

Ellie Jankowski was 11th in 19:54.28.

Haley Makowski placed 19th in 20:33.43.

Penn’s Football Team turned the Backyard Brawl into a Backyard Knockout.

Coach Cory Yeoman’s Kingsmen slugged Mishawaka with 48 unanswered points and roared to the Northern Indiana Conference North Division Championship with a 48-7 victory against the Cavemen.

Penn’s NIC title is the 36th in Program history. The Kingsmen have won seven NIC championships in a row.

Penn only needed one play to erase a 7-0 Mishawaka lead. Zach Usenick hauled in a strike from Ryan Lynch and zoomed past the Cavemen defense for a 60-yard touchdown.

Paul Moala recovered a fumble on the Mishawaka 25 on the ensuing series and the Kingsmen cashed in with an eight-yard TD run by Ryan Whiteman.

Penn’s two quick strikes triggered a Kingsmen scoring avalanche as Penn rolled up a 34-7 halftime lead.

Whiteman ended up scoring three TD’s, the three-yard run, a 64-yard run and a 1-yard run.

Quarterback Ryan Lynch scored on a 12-yard sweep.

Lynch also had a second TD pass, a seven-yard connection to Brock Boynton.

Trenton Horvath finished off the Kingsmen scoring with a four-yard run.

Penn High’s Kingsmen Volleyball Team, ranked No. 12 in the state, overpowered No. 16 LaPorte, 25-14, 25-13, 25-16, to capture the Class 4-A South Bend Sectional Championship on Saturday, Oct. 14. The Sectional title was the 14^th in Program history.

“I’m so proud of these girls tonight,” Penn Head Coach Sarah Hendricks said. “They played with heart and as a team.

“Naomi Willis is 5-foot-4 and played like she is 6-foot-4.  Ally Hickey had an outstanding performance and led us in kills.”

Here is a Photo Gallery of the Sectional Championship.

Hendricks said that Penn’s defense was essential in turning back the LaPorte attack.

“Our defense was amazing,” Hendricks said. “Sophia Cruz, Rachel Hickey and Julia Beers were digging everything. LaPorte had some outstanding hitters, and our defense was shutting them down. We played with energy and executed our game plan. It was a great night.”

Ally Hickey blasted off to lead the Kingsmen with 14 kills. Italia Fields had 13 kills and Alyssa Torres had eight kills.

Naomi Willis directed the Penn offense with 36 assists.

Rachel Hickey led the Kingsmen defense with 19 digs. Sophia Cruz had 18 digs and Kylee Hixenbaugh had 10 digs.

Penn’s Volleyball Team, ranked No. 12 in the state, defeated No. 16 LaPorte, 3-0, to earn the Class 4-A South Bend Sectional Championship on Saturday, Oct. 14.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

Coach Cory Yeoman’s Penn Football Team beat Mishawaka 48-7 on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, to earn the Northern Indiana Conference North Division Championship.

A Photo Gallery is posted below.

Penn opened the Volleyball State Tournament with a 25-7, 25-12, 25-9 victory against South Bend Adams in the Class 4-A South Bend Clay Sectional on Thursday, Oct. 12. 

Penn (29-4) advances to the Semifinal round to play at noon on Saturday, Oct. 14. 

Italia Fields and Rachel Rupert blasted 11 kills each. 

Alyssa Torres had eight kills. 

Naomi Willis dished out 33 assists. 

Rachel Hickey had 16 digs, Julia Beers 14, and Sophia Cruz 10 digs.

Penn High School Biology Teacher John Gensic was recognized today among Indiana’s finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the nation's highest honor math, science and computer science teachers. This is the second time Mr. Gensic has received this great honor; he was a state PAEMST finalist last year as well. 

Mr. Gensic, 2016 P-H-M Teacher of the Year and Top 10 Finalist for 2017 Indiana Teacher of the Year, is now in contention to win the national award.  His application will move on to the U.S. Department of Education for the next round of selection. 

National winners receive:

• A certificate signed by the President of the United States.
• A paid trip for two to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities.
• A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

In addition to recognizing outstanding teaching in mathematics or science, the program provides teachers with an opportunity to build lasting partnerships with colleagues across the nation. Since 1983, more than 4,100 teachers have been recognized.

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