Dr. Galiher Transitions to District Leadership; Assistant Principal Rachel Fry Named New Principal of Penn High School

Penn High School is preparing for a major leadership transition as longtime principal Dr. Sean Galiher steps into a new districtwide role. After nine years leading Penn, Dr. Galiher has been accepted a new role as Chief Operating Officer for Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, following the retirement of Dr. Tom Keely. He will begin his new position on Monday, December 1.

In a message to the P-H-M community, Dr. Galiher said his focus moving forward will be supporting every school in the district, ensuring operations, transportation, facilities, and student safety, and remain strong and forward-focused.

Even as he steps into this districtwide position, Dr. Galiher shared how meaningful Penn has been to him and his family; he highlighted the relationships, teamwork, and moments that made his nine years as principal so impactful. He will remain closely connected to the Penn community as he transitions into this next chapter.

With Dr. Galiher moving to the district office, Associate Principal Rachel Fry has been selected as the next principal of Penn High School. Fry has spent 17 years at Penn in a variety of roles, including special education teacher, math teacher, and associate principal. She has worked alongside Dr. Galiher for nearly a decade.

In an interview with PNN, she described Penn as a place that has shaped her professional life.

Penn High School is just a really special place. I’ve spent 17 years of my career here, and I was excited to be offered and looking forward to leading and working in a new capacity for this building.

What stands out most to her is Penn’s size and the broad range of opportunities it creates for students. She says in an interview: There’s something for everyone. The course options, the extracurriculars, the supports you’d expect from a smaller school… it creates a really good balance.

Fry noted that education is constantly changing as schools adapt to new research, new opportunities, and new challenges. She said she’s eager to continue building on what’s working while leading the school into the next phase of growth.

It’s really nice just having a team and that we all balance each other out in terms of our experiences, our strengths, our weaknesses.

Among her favorite responsibilities is overseeing the Early College program, which she hopes to keep expanding as new diploma pathways and educational shifts emerge.

In her letter to the community, Fry said she feels honored by the trust placed in her. She highlighted the strong culture, talented staff, and driven student body as the foundation she hopes to continue strengthening.

Her connection to Penn also extends to her family. Her husband Lucas is a Penn graduate, and their two children are future Kingsmen.

Penn High School enters December with both continuity and new energy. Dr. Galiher steps into a position supporting the entire district, while Fry begins leading a school she has helped shape for nearly two decades.

Both leaders expressed deep gratitude for the school community and excitement for what lies ahead.