Jan Mindish

Executive Director

Jan was named executive director after serving as a board member from 2010 to 2016, plus a stint in 2017. She began her Penn Manor career in 1972 as an elementary art teacher and spent 37 years with the district as an art and photography teacher, assistant principal and high school principal, retiring in 2009 after 12 years. Jan was named Pennsylvania High School Principal of the Year in 2007. She is involved in several community organizations, including the Millersville Woman’s Club and the Demuth Foundation. Jan also teaches art classes in Penn Manor’s Twilight Program and has organized a summer art camp at the Lancaster Museum of Art.

Dianne Smith

Executive Assistant

Diane is a former Penn Manor employee who retired in 2015 after 34 years, including 28 years as Central Manor Elementary School’s secretary. She’s still active at the school as a volunteer. Diane previously served on the PMEF board and has transitioned into the executive assistant position to assist the executive director. Dianne and her husband, Barry, live in Washington Boro.

Bradley Seiger

Board President

Brad is a third-generation Penn Manor graduate who lives in Millersville. He is the son of PMEF board president Tracy Seiger and former board member Tom Seiger. A 2018 graduate of West Chester University with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Brad works at High Industries.

Patrick Kline

Board Vice President

Pat is definitely a Penn Manor guy. He is a Penn Manor alumnus (Class of 1982), is married to Laura (PM Class of 1984), and has two children, Erik (PM Class of 2010) and Cassie (PM Class of 2015). Pat has served as a member of the Penn Manor School Board as well as coached youth softball, baseball and basketball. He operates his own business in Quarryville, a State Farm Insurance Agency.

Claudia Himes

Claudia is the former business owner and president of Special Occasions Linen, retiring after 34 years. Her husband, Jeff Himes, is a recently retired PM art teacher. Claudia’s reason for joining PMEF, “Penn Manor is an amazing school district and I support PMEF’s mission.” She believes her business background will enable her to help PMEF to “increase our outreach and grow the number of our community supporters.”

Carole Chismar

Carole and her husband, Paul, both are retired Penn Manor teachers whose two children, Elizabeth and Brian, graduated from Penn Manor High School. Carole began teaching at Pequea Elementary before transferring to Eshleman, where she taught first grade until her retirement in 2014. She and her husband are avid Penn State fans and enjoy traveling throughout the United States.

Wendy Letavic

Wendy retired in June after a successful career teaching English and ESL in Penn Manor schools. Wendy and her husband, Paul, are Class of ‘86 PM grads. Wendy received both Venture grants and Strong & Healthy grants for her students. She would like to give back to PMEF and continue to support the Penn Manor community. “I want to encourage teachers to apply for grants and support them as they create innovative educational opportunities for their students.”

Joe Herman

Joe retired in 2014 from teaching social studies at Penn Manor High School, but has continued to stay involved in Penn Manor. He serves as a tutor at the high school and as an adviser to the school’s Civil War Club. He’s also a volunteer coach for the junior high soccer program and coaches throwers for the high school track and field team. Joe is serving a second term on the PMEF board.

Katie Hess

Katie owns Gather Home Boutique and Furniture in Conestoga and serves on the Millersville Lioness Club. She and her husband, Dell, have two sons who are Penn Manor graduates. Katie says her family moved to Penn Manor because of the quality of its schools and she is looking forward to giving back to the school district as a PMEF board member.

Stephanie Keck

Board secretary

Stephanie is director of change enablement at Cox Automotive. She is former secretary of the Manor Pride Gridiron Club. Her husband, Jim, is a 1994 Penn Manor graduate. The Kecks have two children. Jimmy is a 2023 graduate of Penn Manor High School, and Grace attends the high school. The Kecks live in Manor Township.

Don Mowery

Treasurer

Don is a partner at Trout CPA who has served since 2013 as treasurer of the PMEF board. A 1996 graduate of Penn Manor, he lives in Millersville with his wife, Gail. They have five children: Erica, Ryan, Kyle, Scott and Alex. He enjoys playing golf recreationally and in competitive tournaments, as well as playing in couples tournaments with his wife. Don also enjoy watching movies and reading about changes in tax laws.

Reilly Noetzel

Reilly is a 2009 Penn Manor graduate who works as a real estate attorney for Barley Snyder in Lancaster. He and his wife, Cierra (a 2010 PM graduate), have a preschool-age daughter, Cornelia. The Noetzels live in Washington Boro.

Mary Rafter

Mary formerly taught at Garden Spot and Manheim Central High Schools and Swift Middle School. She has worked part-time at many jobs, including child care, preschool aide and most recently at Pequea Elementary as an aide to the reading specialist and as a substitute for building aides. She and her husband, Marty, have two children. Matt is a Penn Manor graduate and Maggie attends Penn Manor High School. The Rafters live in Willow Street.

Scott Stephan

Scott works for Roseville Wealth Management Group and has served as a counselor for Crossroads Counseling and as chairman of various church committees at Ascension Lutheran Church. He and his wife, Laura, live in Lancaster and have two children, Zac and Jared. Scott enjoys spending time with his family, rescue dogs and golf.

Jerissa Warfel

Jerissa has been involved with PMEF since 2009, serving in several roles. In recent years, she has co-chaired the PMEF Annual Dinner Committee. Jerissa works under the U.S. Department of State Bridge USA program supporting International Exchange students through AuPairCare and Ayusa. Jerissa and her husband, Eric, have five children; two are Penn Manor graduates, and three attend Penn Manor schools.

Dr. Phil Gale

Superintendent, Ex Officio Member

Phil is the superintendent of Penn Manor School District and serves as an ex officio member of the Foundation board. He previously was assistant superintendent for secondary education and principal of Penn Manor High School. Phil received his doctorate in educational leadership from Immaculata University and his master’s in educational leadership from Millersville University. He and his wife, Jill Montgomery, live in Millersville and have two sons who are Penn Manor alumni.

Michele Sipel

Michele and her husband, Matt, are Class of ‘91 Penn Manor alumni. Michele serves as the Director of Home and Community Based Services at Landis Communities. Michele stated. “I have lived in the Penn Manor School District for my entire life. As a graduate and having my sons recently graduate from Penn Manor gives me more than one perspective on what it means to have Comet Pride. I want to volunteer with PMEF to help my community.”

Randi Wolf

Randi is a Class of 2000 Penn Manor alumnus. Her husband is Brent. Randi is active in the girls soccer and basketball Booster Clubs. She currently serves as the Director of Student Services and Learning Resource Center at York Technical Institute. She also serves as Director of Celebrate Columbia and Mission Impact. Randi is joining the PMEF board “to serve and give back to the PM community in a way that assists students and families to achieve their own successes.”

Jason Stover

Jason is a Class of 2014 Penn Manor grad. His wife, Jordan Hess, graduated from Penn Manor in 2015. Jason graduated from Penn State University in 2018 and currently works as an Aerospace Engineer. He describes his motivation to serve on the PMEF board as “An opportunity to give back to the community and help improve learning experiences in the Penn Manor School District.” He’s planning to get involved in PMEF alumni events to expand our outreach to alumni.