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.

Becky Spezialetti

Board President

Becky (Penn Manor Class of 1982) worked in administration until 2008, when she left her job to stay home with her family. She and her husband, Ron, are the parents of Brooke and Cole, who attended Penn Manor schools. They live in Millersville.

Bradley Seiger

Board Vice 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.

Matt Blank

Matt returned to the board after serving an initial term from from 2012 to 2018. A 2000 graduate of Penn Manor High School, he works with his father at MBC Remodeling, and plays drums in several regional bands, including The Vivien Leigh Documentary. Matt lives in Millersville with his wife Leah (Class of 2003), and sons Mason and Bennett.

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.

JoLynn Drexel

JoLynn has been part of the Penn Manor community for 35 years and retired at the end of the 2019-2020 school year after teaching at Conestoga, Hambright, Martic and Pequea elementary schoools. JoLynn’s daughter, Jenny Fisher, also teaches in the district, and two other Drexel family members have taught in the district.  JoLynn and her husband, Jeffrey, live in Holtwood and have two children and three grandchildren.

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

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.

Patrick Kline

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.

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.

Barbara St. John

Secretary

Barb spent 29 years with Penn Manor as a teacher at elementary and middle schools, most recently at Eshleman Elementary, until retiring in 2015. A native of Lewistown, Barb lives in Millersville. Her daughter, Kelly, is a 2014 Penn Manor High School graduate who is Penn Manor’s athletic trainer. Barb is excited to join the PMEF board to give back after having received several classroom Venture Grants over the years as a teacher.

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.

Brian Wallace

Community Relations Coordinator, Ex Officio Member

Brian is community relations coordinator for Penn Manor School District. A former newspaper reporter and editor and part-time ESL teacher, he does publicity for the school district as well as the Education Foundation. Brian is the husband of Susan Wallace, who works in the software industry. They live in Lancaster and have five adult children, Jess, Anne, Colleen, Jimmie and Owen.