There’s nothing like being surprised with good news. That’s what happened to 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Peggy Orosz this morning. Click here for the full photo gallery.

With the help of Principal Christie Heerschop, P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker dropped in on Mrs. Orosz’ class to let her know she earned a P-H-M Impact Award for having the highest DIBELS growth for 2nd grade when measured from the beginning of the year to the middle of year; 100% of students met or exceeded their growth targets.

Dr. Thacker was accompanied by other members of P-H-M Administration Dr. Heather Short, Asst. Superintendent; Director of Professional Development Dr. Lavon Dean-Null; Ryan Towner, Director of Literacy; and Jennifer Turnblom McClain, Executive Director of the P-H-M Education Foundation.

The Spring 2025 P-H-M Teacher Impact Awards are given to educators who had the most significant individual student growth with DIBELS, IREAD, ILEARN, and AP testing. Dr. Thacker awarded five other teachers with Impact Awards on April 1st. Click here more details.

Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for covering the cost for the beautiful crystal awards which teachers can proudly display in their classrooms.

It’s One Book, One School time! This year we will be reading “The Pet War” by Allan Woodrow.

“Eleven-year-old Otto wants a dog. His twelve-year-old sister, Lexi, wants a cat. Their mother, who works very long hours, wants neither … She (Lexi) suggests that whoever can raise enough money will decide which pet they get …Can Lexi and Otto survive the ugliness of battle, or will they ruin everything in their fight to defeat the other? The battle lines have been drawn, so let the Pet War begin …”

To keep everyone on the same page (literally), click here to access all the activities, like the reading calendar, reading log, at home projects, etc. 

The Fine Arts programs at Mary Frank and Northpoint Elementary Schools are set to shine even brighter, thanks to a grant awarded by the PHM Education Foundation (PHMEF). Jennifer Turnblom, Executive Director of PHMEF, visited to present the check for $5,036.98 to Jason Poff, supporting significant upgrades to sound and lighting equipment at both schools.

The grant will fund enhancements to the audio and visual systems used in Fine Arts performances. These improvements aim to elevate the quality of student productions while providing students with valuable experience in technical aspects of theater, such as lighting and sound engineering. Additionally, these upgrades will create opportunities for students to develop communication and presentation skills through improved performance experiences.

By investing in state-of-the-art equipment, the grant supports the mission of fostering creativity, collaboration, and technical expertise among students. The upgraded systems will enrich performances, benefiting not only the participating students but also the audiences who enjoy their work.

Congratulations to Jason Poff and the Mary Frank and Northpoint Elementary communities for this exciting advancement in their Fine Arts programs, and thank you to PHMEF for its continued support of innovative educational opportunities!

Teachers whose students have seen significant First Semester growth, achieving individual improvement on their formative assessments over time, are being recognized with the P-H-M Impact Award. It’s quite an honor, and a surprise, to receive this award. Click here to see the photo gallery below of today’s surprise.

Today Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker visited Mary Frank Elementary Schools to congratulate 3rd grade teacher teacher Amanda Harcus with the help of Principal Christie Heerschop.

Mrs. Harcus was recognized for her students being the Top 1 or Top 2 in three subjects: Reading, Writing, Math on Clear Sight.

Congratulations to Mrs. Harcus and the hard work of her students!

While all P-H-M teachers across the district are dedicated to helping their students achieve personal academic success, we are especially proud of teachers and their students who have excelled.

The Impact Awards were first handed out in September 2023 to teachers with the most significant overall student growth during the 2022-2023 school year.

Thank you to the P-H-M Education Foundation for covering the cost of the awards for purchasing the beautiful crystal awards given to the teacher award recipients.