The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees voted unanimously this morning to appoint Mrs. Jennifer (Jen) Smoker to fill the Penn Township Seat #1 vacancy created by the resignation of Matthew Chaffee in early October. 

A long-time resident and active community volunteer, Mrs. Smoker is a dedicated P-H-M parent of four children attending district schools. Her service and advocacy for students and staff have been felt across the district and throughout the greater community.

Mrs. Smoker currently serves on the P-H-M Education Foundation (PHMEF) Board of Directors, where she has chaired the Grants Committee since 2019. In that role, she helps oversee the process of awarding teacher and school grants that enhance learning, spark innovation, and promote excellence in all 15 P-H-M schools. She also supports PHMEF’s fundraising events and community partnerships that benefit students across the district.

Beyond her PHMEF service, Mrs. Smoker is deeply involved in several community organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for Granger Community Church, where she helps guide strategic planning and budget oversight; chairs the Grissom Middle School PTO Scholarship Committee, which awards scholarships to Penn High School seniors; and previously served as Board Secretary for Jr. Irish Soccer Club and Development Chair for Girls on the Run Michiana. Through these roles, she has combined her love of youth development, leadership, and service—supporting programs that build character, confidence, and connection.

Professionally, Mrs. Smoker brings two decades of business leadership and creative experience. A graduate of Miami University’s Farmer School of Business, she began her career as an Account Executive for major advertising firms in Detroit and Chicago, managing national brands such as Lincoln/Mercury and Quaker Oats. In 2003, she founded and operated CardCare.com, an online greeting card company she successfully led for 20 years.

“Mrs. Smoker’s commitment to servant leadership and her deep connection to our schools make her an outstanding addition to the Board,” said Board President Christopher Riley. “She has demonstrated her heart for P-H-M through years of volunteerism and community involvement and will bring a strong parent perspective to the table.”

Superintendent Dr. Heather Short added, “Jen’s energy, insight, and collaborative leadership reflect the very best of P-H-M’s Triangle of Success—students, teachers, and parents working together. Her service to our schools and community exemplifies P-H-M Excellence.”

Arrangements will be made with the P-H-M Board Attorney for Mrs. Smoker to take her Oath of Office. She will serve through the remainder of the current term, which expires in 2026. She may choose to run for election to the ensuing four-year term in the November 2026 general election.

Mrs. Smoker was chosen from five applicants. The other four candidates were John “Todd” Douthit, Brandon M. Kastner, William “Matt” Ludwig, and Ryan C. Woodruff (click here for their resumes). Public interviews of these applicants took place during a special board meeting held Tuesday, October 28th. President Riley said the decision to fill the vacancy was a difficult one, as all five candidates would have been excellent choices.

Click here for the process the Board of School Trustees followed for filling the vacancies.

U.S. News and World Report released its “Best Schools” rankings for K-8 public schools by state and Meadow’s Edge is #370 out of Indiana’s 989 public elementary schools!

Data is based on the 2021–2022, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 school years.

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:

• Discovery #3
• Schmucker #53

Indiana’s 395 Indiana public high schools were also ranked, and Penn ranked #26.

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.

October is National Principals Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing short Q&As with each of our principals—giving you a glimpse into their leadership style, favorite parts of school life, and what drives their #PHMExcellence every day.

If you could swap places with a student for one day, what class or activity would you be most excited to participate in — and why?

Art Smart. I enjoy art and being creative.

What’s your go-to morning routine (or must-have snack/coffee order) that helps you tackle the day?

I am a fan of caramel flavored coffee but I try to limit it to one a week.

What were you like as a middle or high school student — and what’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self?

I was pretty well-rounded. I enjoyed time with friends, played a few sports recreationally, and worked hard in school. I was very active in Student Council as a middle and high school student. One piece of advice I would give myself is that it is important to learn how to schedule “me time” and prioritize where you spend your time.

If your job as a principal had a theme song, what song would be your walk up song–the one playing when you walked into school each day?

Don’t Stop Believing! I believe there is great potential in all students and staff to learn, grow, and excel.

What was your favorite school lunch or snack when you were a student? What is your favorite school lunch now as a principal?

My favorite school lunch as a student was pizza and breadsticks. I remember pooling money together with my tablemates and buying a huge tray full of breadsticks for lunches in middle school. Now, I’m just excited to eat lunch if I get a chance during the day. I rarely eat school lunch.

What’s one fun fact about you that most students or staff don’t know?

I have an identical twin brother. I also have twins myself and they were born on my birthday.

Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies outside of school that might surprise people?

I was a member of the Penn Chamber Choir during my senior year of high school.

What’s one thing on your bucket list you still hope to do one day?

I would like to travel to Italy with my wife.

What’s your favorite school tradition or event?

Back to School Open House. I always look forward to seeing our students and families when they return to the building in August at the start of the school year.

If you could describe your school in one word, what would it be?

Family.

P-H-M’s ENL Department is hosting their annual Community Connections Fair on Saturday, November 1st.

Join us for activities, arts & crafts, food, performances, and to learn about resources in our community. It is completely FREE and all P-H-M families are invited to attend. Click here to see photos on Facebook of past Fairs.

For any families that want to sign up to perform, please click here to fill out the Google form.

This morning, fifth grade students from Meadow’s Edge Elementary experienced a hands-on history lesson during their visit to The History Museum’s “Cabin Days” program in South Bend.

The 90-minute outdoor experience immersed students in pioneer-era life, where they interacted with costumed interpreters demonstrating traditional trades and crafts. Students learned about fur trapping and trading, watched blacksmithing in action, and saw how everyday items like candles and clothing were made through beeswax candle dipping, weaving, and knitting.

In addition to these demonstrations, students toured the historic Navarre Cabin, one of the oldest surviving structures in the region. Museum guides also shared insights into the lives and contributions of Native Americans and early African American settlers who helped shape the area’s history.

The trip brought classroom lessons to life, giving Meadow’s Edge students a chance to see, touch, and experience the past in ways that connect directly to their studies in Indiana and U.S. history. It was a memorable morning of learning beyond the classroom walls!

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P-H-M hosted a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting on Tuesday October, 21, 2025 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, click the image above to watch the recorded video of the presentation. It will only be available until end of business day Thursday, Nov. 20th.

The session was 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.

Click here to access Melissa Moore’s resources referenced in her presentation.

Questions can be directed to the presenter at m3consultingllcwi@gmail.com.

Moore also presented a student focused presentation to Penn students (grades 9-12) during the school day on October 21st and 22nd.

Students at Meadow’s Edge Elementary have been learning about the fascinating life cycle of butterflies, and their classroom project recently reached an exciting milestone.

Over the past few weeks, classes have observed each stage of metamorphosis up close — from caterpillars munching on leaves to chrysalises forming and finally, butterflies preparing to emerge.

This week, the much-anticipated moment arrived for Mrs. Davidson’s class. Her students gathered outside to release two butterflies they had nurtured. Both butterflies right away fluttered into the air and on to the meadow. One even landed on nearby branches, giving students a chance to admire their delicate wings.

This hands-on science project brought classroom lessons to life and gave students a deeper appreciation for the wonders of nature.

At Meadow’s Edge Elementary a creative new initiative is bringing students together while building vital communication and social skills. General education students are partnering with their peers in Exceptional Education classrooms to support the development of pragmatic language — the everyday communication skills we use to interact with others.

The project centers around a student-run snack cart known as the “Woot Woot Wagon”. It is filled with free beverages and snacks for teachers. Exceptional Education students, including those who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, practice real-world language skills as they deliver the cart to staff. They work on making requests, greeting others, taking turns in conversation, and using polite responses like “thank you” and “you’re welcome.” 

By pairing with general education students as peer models and communicators, the program fosters natural social interactions in a supportive environment. The goal is to create a meaningful inclusion experience — one that benefits Exceptional Education students by building confidence and communication skills, while also offering their peers an opportunity to engage in empathy, leadership, and collaboration.

Through this hands-on, student-centered approach, classrooms are not only learning about language — they’re living it. And with the wagon making its rounds once a month, those opportunities for growth and connection will continue all year long.

Students at Meadow’s Edge Elementary are building skills and confidence through Art Smart, a yearlong program that links hands-on projects to the work of master artists.

Each grade completes four Art Smart projects throughout the school year. Teachers introduce a featured artist for inspiration, then guide students through age-appropriate techniques and media. This week, third-graders at Meadow’s Edge focused on line, pattern and color while creating bold “stick person” line art. 

Over the course of the year, students explore watercolor and tempera painting, create clay stamps, and build wire-and-muslin sculptures. Classes also work with oil pastels, chisel-tip markers, watercolor pencils, tissue paper, yarn, diffuser paper and chalk.

Artists studied in the program include Katsushika Hokusai, Piet Mondrian, Alma Thomas, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Keith Haring, Sol LeWitt, Shibata Zeshin, Bridget Riley, Eric Carle, Rene Magritte, Edvard Munch, Grant Wood and Yayoi Kusama.

Teachers have embraced the program, and parent volunteers regularly assist in classrooms. The school’s Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) provides all materials and supplies. School leaders said they are grateful for such a supportive community that helps make arts learning accessible and exciting for every student.