Blackford County Schools

Congratulations to 2026 BJSHS Prom King Jacob Barry and Queen Gabby Orlando. The two reigned over the BJSHS Prom held this past weekend.

Photo courtesy of The Voice of Blackford County

The BPS PTO would like to extend a HUGE thank you to the following individuals and businesses for their gracious donations, discounts, gifts, and time in support of our BPS students and staff! ❤️🐻🖤

Thank you to:
✨ Stu’s Garage
✨ Julie Terrell
✨ Elsbeth & Roger Haun
✨ Erika Miller with Simply GLOW & Simply Cupcakes
✨ Whos Your Coffee
✨ EB’s
✨ Just Be You Designs
✨ Copper Curl Beauty Bar & Auburn Sun Boutique
✨ Sip Studio
✨ Battens Grateful Acres
✨ Tammy’s Sweet Treats

Your generosity and support mean so much to our school community. We truly appreciate you helping make a difference for our BPS students and staff! Thank you for supporting BPS PTO! ❤️🐻🖤

Our BJSHS 7th graders took a field trip to King's Island to celebrate their hard work! They stopped long enough to pose for this great photo!
#BetterAtBlackford

It's Field Trip Time at BCS! Both our students and staff love it when they can celebrate the hard work in the classroom by getting out of the building to see and learn something new. Mrs. Linda Wallace's class ventured out to the Gas City Park to feed the animals. They also enjoyed a meal at King's Buffet in Marion together! What a fun day!
#BetterAtBlackford

Staff Photo includes: (front to back) Linda Wallace, Jennifer Osborne, Cindy Anderson, Susan Hogle, and Joni Duren.

Today's BJSHS Senior Shout Outs go to two hard-working Blackford Bruins! Nickolas Kuehnhold recently graduated from Ivy Tech with his Indiana College Core Certificate and Associate of General Studies.
She is joined by fellow Bruin, Katie Lytle, who also graduated with her Indiana College Core Certificate.
We are proud of these outstanding students, as well as our partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, which made this possible for our students!
Way to go, Bruins!
#BruinProud #IvyTech

It's been a fun Friday at BJSHS for our 7th and 8th grade students. The highlight might be pancake art! In addition, students played Math Pictionary and a singing game!
#BetterAtBlackford

Today's BJSHS Senior Shout Outs go to two hard-working Blackford Bruins! Rowan Hollin recently graduated from Ivy Tech with her Indiana College Core Certificate.
She is joined by fellow Bruin, Mason Kitterman, who also graduated with his Indiana College Core Certificate.
We are proud of these outstanding students, as well as our partnership with Ivy Tech Community College, which made this possible for our students!
Way to go, Bruins!
#BruinProud #IvyTech

We're picking up speed as we head to the finish line, Bruins! Check out the upcoming events.

Don't forget the BJSHS Community Health Fair this Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.! Multiple health services and interactive educational stations will be available throughout the day. If your student needs to update vaccinations, an Immunization Clinic will be available. (A permission slip must be signed first. Call your student's school for more info.)
Be sure to check out all the activities available.

How about a round of applause for the 2026 BCS Teacher of the Year at Blackford Jr.-Sr. High School- Mrs. Linda Wallace!
Mrs. Wallace teaches Special Needs at BJSHS and has been a part of BCS since 1995.
During yesterday's staff meeting at BJSHS, Principal Jason Ridge surprised Mrs. Wallace with the honor saying, "Linda isn't just an educator; she is the heartbeat of a program. She works with our most unique students, meeting them exactly where they are with a level of patience, kindness, and compassion that most of us strive for on our best days, but Linda cares every single day.
"Whether she's in the classroom or on the sidelines coaching Unified Sports, Linda sees the potential in every student. She reminds us daily that inclusion isn't just a buzzword; it's a way of life. She doesn't just teach life skills, she models a well-lived life."
During the presentation, Mrs. Wallace's husband, Tim, (a former BCS teacher) joined the spontaneous standing ovation given to her by her colleagues.
Congratulations, Mrs. Wallace! We are #BruinProud of you!
#TeacherOfThe Year

As Teacher Appreciation Week continues at Blackford County Schools, we would like to introduce you to the 2026 BCS Teacher of the Year from Blackford Intermediate School- Mrs. Rachael Shadiow!
Mrs. Shadiow teaches 3rd grade at the BIS. She's been a part of Blackford County Schools since 2018, when she started as a 1st grade teacher at Montpelier Elementary.
BIS Principal Jim Fox had this to say about Mrs. Shadiow and her selection, "I’m happy to recognize Rachael Shadiow as our 2025–26 Teacher of the Year. She is an exceptional educator who consistently goes above and beyond for our students and school. Mrs. Shadiow demonstrates dedication, passion, and a deep commitment to student success. Through engaging instruction, meaningful relationships, and her positive influence throughout the building, she truly represents the very best of what it means to be a Bruin.
Following the announcement that she had been selected Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Shadiow's class burst into applause and happy cheering as Superintendent Chad Yencer and Assistant Superintendent Lesley Moulton presented her with gifts.
Congratulations, Mrs. Shadiow! We are #BruinProud of you!

Today's Senior Shout goes out to two hard-working Blackford Bruins! Madison Henderson recently graduated from Ivy Tech with her Indiana College Core Certificate. She is joined by fellow Bruin, Azariah Keyes, who also graduated with her Indiana College Core Certificate.
We are proud of these hard-working students, as well as our partnership with Ivy Tech Community College! Way to go, Bruins!
#BruinProud #IvyTech

Here's a great way to catch up on credits or receive some extra assistance in a particular subject- BJSHS Summer School. Be sure to read the attachment thoroughly. BJSHS SUMMER SCHOOL WILL TAKE PLACE AT BIS.
(Look for information about elementary Summer School to come.)

Blackford County Schools is proud to announce the 2025-2026 Blackford Primary School Teacher of the Year- Mrs. Julia Tucker. She was honored yesterday with a plaque, flowers and a reception with her colleagues and family on hand at the school.
Mrs. Tucker currently serves as the Interventionist at BPS, where she helps students make friends with books and stretch their reading abilities.
"Julia has a special way of relating to her students, said Principal Craig Campbell. "No matter what the subject is or the context of a conversation, she always finds a way to personally relate with her audience."
He added that she has one very specific way of making sure her students are in the correct mindset to learn. They need to be prepared to catch what she is throwing at them. "Get your mitt up!" is a phrase everyone that has learned under her knows very well. Her persistence, hard work and experience means countless students have benefitted from Mrs. Tucker's teaching and are better readers for it.
We congratulate Mrs. Tucker on this honor!
#BruinProud #BPSTeacherOfTheYear

More scenes from the 2026 Jennerjahn Most Influential Educator Awards held last night. BJSHS Top Ten Seniors were asked to select the person who have most impacted their educational life. The recipient and their student were honored with an awards dinner. During the event, students were asked to explain why the person was so influential and present him/her with a token of appreciation.
#BruinProud

Blackford County Schools would like to thank Mrs. Ruth Jennerjahn and her family for hosting the 2026 Jennerjahn Most Influential Educator Awards. For those of you who might not be aware, Ruth and her late husband, Brian, began the Most Influential Educator Awards 22 years ago to honor educators who have made a significant impact on the lives of the BJSHS Top Ten Seniors. During previous events, Brian Jennerjahn often shared that the awards were born after he'd wished there had been a way to let his Most Influential Educator, Miss Schmitt, know how much she meant to him and the impact she'd had on his life..
At the same time, the Jennerjahns were looking for a way to honor students who might not be at the top of the class, but worked hard throughout the school year and deserved recognition. That was the beginning of the Most Improved Student Awards, which recognizes a hard-working student in grades 2-8 in BCS with a special banquet and gift.
We thank Ruth Jennerjahn, and the entire Jennerjahn family, for their continued support of Blackford County Schools and these important student and teacher programs.

As Teacher Appreciation kicks off the week, the celebration officially began during last night's 2026 Jennerjahn Most Influential Educator Awards. For those who might not be familiar with the annual event, the top 10 BJSHS seniors select an educator who has been the most impactful in their lives.
During the 22 years the awards program has been in place over 200 BJSHS students have selected their Most Influential Educator.
The 2025-2026 Most Influential Educators and the students who selected them include: MSG Rick Kauffman and Kalli Mealy, Mr. Jack Norton and Lewis Dudelston, Mr. Jeff Cline and Nickolas Kuehnhold, Mr. Richard Uggen and Samuel Barry, Mr. Tom Simison and Brayden Bennett-Walter, Mr. Austin Cochrane and Abigail Slentz, Mrs. Christy Lytle and Azariah Keyes, Ms. Bethany Nusbaumer and Zoey Abbott, Mr. Garrett Krieg and Mason Kitterman, and Mrs. Jennifer Gallatin and Zayne Rodarmel.
Mrs. Ruth Jennerjahn and her family hosted the event and prepared the meal. She shared how much the event meant to her family and said she had asked her adult children who their most influential educators had been during their time in school.
Students shared why their educator was so important during a brief speech and presented him/her with a token of appreciation. The gifts ranged from a hand-crafted walking stick to a cd of the teacher's greatest math hits. There were heart-felt tears during the event, as well as a lot of laughter.
We congratulate all of our Educators, as well as the Top Ten Seniors who selected them. We are #BruinProud!
#JennerjahnAwards #TeacherAppreciation #BruinProud

Let's meet the 2026 7th and 8th Grade Jennerjahn Most Improved Students- Katheryn Anderson and Remington Mahon. The students were honored for their hard work and improvementby their teachers and principal. Pictured (from left) Mrs. Sherri McDonald, Katheryn Anderson, Principal Kelli Ruble, Remington Mahon, and Mrs. Laura Lee.
We are proud of all your hard work Katheryn and Remington. Keep it up!
#BruinProud

You know them, you love them.... and they are SUPERHEROES here at Blackford County Schools! Thank you to our all our food service staff for keeping our Bruins fed throughout the school year! Our food service staff ROCKS!
#BruinProud