Blackford County Schools

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

We'd like to introduce you to the 2026 2nd Grade Jennerjahn Most Improved Student Lucas Deane. Lucas is joined in the photo by his teacher Ms. Victoria Mattucci and BPS Principal Craig Campbell. Lucas was just one of the students honored for their hard work and improvement during the recent Jennerjahn Most Improved Student Awards. Keep up the good work, Lucas!
#BruinProud

Blackford County Schools has an opening for an 8th grade Math Teacher, a JROTC Instructor and a Special Education Teacher at BJSHS. If interested, please click the link in the posting to apply. There is also an ECA opening for a Head Varsity Swim and Dive Coach. For more information about the position, reach out to BJSHS Athletic Director Garry May. Check out all the current jobs available:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rHbKJtAgQ5b0EXkdyUGGgMJtk-Rlhnk8W-RvmAlQ08M/edit?usp=sharing

Let's give a shout-out to two accomplished BJSHS seniors today! Brayden Bennett-Walter recently graduated from Ivy Tech with his Indiana College Core Certificate. He is joined by fellow Bruin, Evelyn Gulley, who also graduated with her Indiana College Core Certificate.
We are proud of theses hard-working students, as well as our partnership with Ivy Tech Community College! Way to go, Bruins!
#BruinProud #IvyTech

Let's hear it for the 2026 Jennerjahn BIS Most Improved Students, their teachers and principals! They include: (front row l-r) Katherine Farmer, Jessica Dunica, 5th grader Olivia Adams, 4th grader Bentley Burns, 6th grader Natalie Carnes, 3rd grader Anastasia Boyd, Row 2- Principal Jim Fox, Assistant Principal Chas Gabriel, Katie Barnes, Beth Wall, Lyndesy Ahern and Carma Reidy
#BruinProud

Woo-hoo! Let's hear it for these hard-working BJSHS seniors - Samuel Barry and Jessica Brinkerhoff who obtained their College Certificates and Associate Degrees through Ivy Tech!
These are just two of 13 seniors who made great strides towards their college careers while still attending BJSHS! We are #BruinProud! #IvyTechCommunityCollege

BCS is seeking future Bruins! If you have a student who will turn 5 before August 1 and has not yet signed up for Kindergarten, please contact Blackford Primary School at 765.348.7584!
We can't wait to meet them!

The ABC Countdown to Summer has started in the BPS Preschool!
So far there has been:
Animal Day (stuffed and real!)
Bubbles & Bunnies
Chalk & Chips
So much fun!
#BetterAtBCS

Our BJSHS HOSA students (future health professionals) represented BCS proudly at their State Leadership Conference!

Students advancing to the final round include:

HOSA Bowl: Chloe Smith, Kalli Mealy, Mary Baird, Loralie Hile

Researched Persuasive Writing: Eilee Massey

Veterinary Science: Autumn Kanedy, Ava Mendoza

Nursing Assisting: Jessica Brinkerhoff, Loralie Hile

Forensic Science: Evelyn Pacheco, Elissa Strait

Mental Health Promotion: Chlloe Smith and Hayleigh Quick

Placing in the Top Ten of the final round were:

Loralie Hile in Nursing Assisting

Addison Clamme in Patient Care and Prepared Speaking

Way to go, Bruins!

#BruinProud #HOSA

School Board members received an update on the status of the BCS Performing Arts Center last evening from Meyer Najem Construction Manager Kyle Jones. A number of drone shots displayed the work that has taken place at the site. Jones noted that structure work would continue through June. The Performing Arts Center is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

It's been a busy day in Mr. Mike Jones' Criminal Justice classes at BJSHS today. K9 Shakira, who was visiting with her partner, Deputy Conner Fritch, from the Grant County Sheriff's Department stopped by to visit the class. K9 Shakira was there to demonstrate her bomb-detecting abilities.
#BetterAtBlackford

Join us for the April School Board Meeting- Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the boardroom at the Administrative Offices.

BIS students had a special surprise this week! Our Book Blast books arrived! Thanks to all the students and families, BIS was able to raise $6,810 which allowed every single student to receive at least 1 free book. Way to go!!
#bookblastadventures #literacymatters #booksarefun #bookblast

Meet Selah, a future Blackford Bruin and a member of the Class of 2039! Selah will be joining the 2026-2027 Kindergarten class at BPS this fall. If you have a child who will turn 5 by August 1 who has not registered for Kindergarten yet, please call BPS at 765.348.7584. We can't wait to meet them!

#FutureBlackfordBruin #ClassOf2039

Blackford County residents will have the opportunity to obtain lung scans during the Blackford High School Health Fair set for Friday, May 8. Please review the attached information and see if you or a loved one might be eligible for this important screening. Appointments are recommended.

#BJSHS Health Fair