The Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) has named Larry Beehler, a member of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Board of School Trustees, as the recipient of the 2026 Indiana Outstanding Board Service Award.
A longtime advocate for public education, Larry Beehler has dedicated 40 years of service to the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees, helping guide one of Indiana’s highest-performing school corporations through decades of growth, innovation, and student success. During his tenure, including 22 years in board leadership positions, Beehler has championed model governance, strategic planning, and initiatives that have helped generations of students thrive.
“What truly distinguishes Larry most is not simply the extraordinary length of service, but his integrity, humility, thoughtful judgment, and genuine care,” said fellow Penn-Harris-Madison School Board member Gary Fox.
Beehler has played a key role in shaping the district’s governance practices, helping develop Penn-Harris-Madison’s school board compact based on the John Carver Board Governance Model. He has served on the board’s negotiation team, the district’s Wellness Committee, and as the corporation’s representative on the local Redevelopment Commission. He has also helped oversee major construction projects and capital improvements, while supporting innovative initiatives such as naming-rights partnerships that generate additional revenue for the district.
Student success is at the heart of his service. Beehler participated in Penn High School’s strategic planning process, including service on the Smaller Learning Communities Achievement Design Committee, which helped establish smaller learning communities and achievement academies designed to personalize instruction and improve student outcomes. Over the years, Penn High School’s graduation rate has risen from 79 percent to 98 percent.
Beyond policy and planning, Beehler has maintained a personal connection to the schools he serves. Each year, he visits school buildings during the opening week to welcome students and staff and reinforce his commitment to their success. He also established the Larry Beehler Scholarship, awarded annually to a graduating senior who attended Madison Elementary School.
A graduate and valedictorian of Madison Township High School, Beehler has remained deeply committed to the school community that helped shape his life. His decades of service and leadership were recognized in 2026 when the district dedicated the Larry and Judy Beehler School Board Room in his honor.
“Larry Beehler exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated school board member” said ISBA Executive Director Terry Spradlin. “Larry’s service stands as a remarkable example of the difference thoughtful, servant-minded leadership can make in a community.”
The Indiana Outstanding Board Service Award is conferred annually by the ISBA to one school board member out of the 1,686 school board members in Indiana. The award honors exceptional school board service, leadership, and dedication to public education. Chosen by fellow school board members, the winner is recognized during the ISBA-IAPSS Annual Fall Conference at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, which takes place this year on October 5-6, 2026.
In addition to the statewide award, the following school board members were recognized as Regional Outstanding Board Service Award winners for each of ISBA’s 10 geographical regions:
Region 1 – Andy Maletta, Portage Township Schools
Region 2 – Larry Beehler, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
Region 3 – Valerie Armstrong, Dekalb County Central United School District
Region 4 – Bob Gerber, Tri-County School Corporation
Region 4 – Brad Swartzell, Pioneer Regional School Corporation
Region 5 – Katie Fague, Tipton Community School Corporation
Region 6 – John Adams, Delaware Community Schools
Region 7 – Jessica Elston, Plainfield Community School Corporation
Region 8 – Amy Norman, M.S.D. of Lawrence Township
Region 9 – David Waninger, North Spencer County School Corporation
Region 10 – Myra Powell, Borden-Henryville School Corporation