Round three of First Year Fridays is officially here!

Week three is in full swing, and today we are excited to highlight our District Office team. Check out the photos below and help us give them a warm Panther welcome! Happy Friday, everyone!
about 18 hours ago, Josh Didier
Frist Year Friday - PBL Superintendent - Mr. Eric Bohm
Frist Year Friday - PBL Asst. Superintendent of Teaching & Learning - Mrs. Hannah Eshleman
Frist Year Friday - PBL Payroll Specialist & Board Secretary - Mrs. Kathryn Shervino
Frist Year Friday - PBL Bookkeeper - Mrs. Jessica Sinn
Frist Year Friday - PBL Records Clerk - Mrs. Kristy Genzel
Frist Year Friday - PBL Director of Technology - Mr. Justin Benda
The PBL School District would like to express its sincere gratitude to Mr. Darrell Foster for his 24 years of dedicated service to our students and families. Over the past two decades, Mr. Foster has provided safe transportation and compassionate care for our students, and we are deeply grateful for his lasting impact on our community.
about 19 hours ago, Josh Didier
D. Foster Retirement Picture
BIG NEWS! We are thrilled to announce that PBL FFA has officially been ranked a 3-Star FFA Chapter—the highest ranking possible at the national level!

The National Chapter Award Program recognizes chapters that actively carry out the FFA mission by growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. This 3-Star rating reflects the hard work of our members to deliver high-quality experiences for our membership, school, and community. We are so proud to share that our chapter will be recognized on stage this October during the 99th National FFA Convention.
4 days ago, Hannah Eshleman
PBL FFA
Focus on the Future: Be Present, Be Powerful at PBL!

Welcome back, Panthers! As we look ahead to an exciting school year, we want to share our 2026-2027 Vacation Planner to help your family plan memorable breaks while ensuring your child maximizes their learning time and keeps a clear Focus on the Future!

At PBL, we are committed to preparing every student for responsible citizenship and lifelong success by cultivating strong character, critical thinking, clear communication, and collaboration within a safe and high-expectation learning environment where daily attendance and active participation are supported by families and community partners. The foundation of this preparation starts with being present every day. Our attendance motto, Be Present, Be Powerful, highlights a fundamental truth: every single school day is a powerful opportunity for growth, discovery, and connection.

Daily attendance and active participation are essential, and we are grateful that they are so strongly supported by our PBL families and community partners. By utilizing the scheduled breaks listed in this planner for family travel and significant appointments, you provide the continuous learning flow our students need.

Let’s make this year extraordinary. Join us in encouraging excellent daily attendance.
5 days ago, Josh Didier
PBL Vacation Planner 2026-2027
On August 3rd and 4th, local 4th and 5th grade students joined PBL FFA to dive into all things agriculture. Fun, hands-on lessons were completely planned by PBL High School FFA members! We love to see our students step up as leaders and inspire the next generation of FFA membership!
5 days ago, Hannah Eshleman
Ag Day Camp
Ag Day Camp
Ag Day Camp
Ag Day Camp
Ag Day Camp
Happy Friday! We’re continuing our First Year Fridays series today after launching it last week. Check out today’s photos as we highlight and welcome more of the newest additions to our staff. We are so excited to have everyone in the district—Go Panthers!
8 days ago, Josh Didier
Frist Year Friday - PBL HS Principal - Mrs. Melinda Busby
Frist Year Friday - PBL HS - Karile Wright (English Teacher)
Frist Year Friday - PBL HS - Mackenzie Harmon (AG Teacher)
Frist Year Friday - PBL HS - Jackie Schertz (AG Teacher)
Happy Friday! We’re continuing our First Year Fridays series today after launching it last week. Check out today’s photos as we highlight and welcome more of the newest additions to our staff. We are so excited to have everyone in the district—Go Panthers!
8 days ago, Josh Didier
Frist Year Friday - PBL HS & JH - Martha Adkins (Kitchen Cook)
Frist Year Friday - PBL HS & JH - Jill Kief (Kitchen Cook)
Free Sports Physicals, Dental, and Behavioral Health Services for PBL Families!

Check out the attached flyers in English and Spanish for full details on these free services.

To schedule an appointment, please call 217-600-7000.
11 days ago, Josh Didier
Back-to-School & Sports Physicals (English)
Back-to-School & Sports Physicals (Spanish)
Ready to kick off a great year—we can’t wait to welcome our freshmen and new students to PBL High School tomorrow morning for orientation!
12 days ago, Melinda Busby
Freshman Orientation
We are kicking off the school year with "First Year Fridays" to welcome our new staff members! Over the next few Fridays, we will be sharing pictures of the newest additions to our team. We are thrilled to welcome everyone to the district—Go Panthers!
15 days ago, Josh Didier
Emilie Ross - CP - Asst. Principal
Kristin McDonald - Behavioral Specialist - CP
Michaela Verheyen - 3rd Grade - CP
Katie McDonald - PreK - CP
We are kicking off the school year with "First Year Fridays" to welcome our new staff members! Over the next few Fridays, we will be sharing pictures of the newest additions to our team. We are thrilled to welcome everyone to the district—Go Panthers!
15 days ago, Josh Didier
Frist Year Friday - PBL JH Asst. Principal - Mr. Jeff Condis

Help us spread the word!
PBL High School is looking for passionate educators to join us for the 2026-2027 school year. We currently have openings for:

Health/PE Teacher

Paraprofessional

To apply, please submit your completed application, resume, and 3 professional references to PBL High School Principal, Melinda Busby at mbusby@pblpanthers.org.

Current Openings/Application

19 days ago, Melinda Busby
HS Openings
Skyward is undergoing server updates this weekend to correct recent issues. Mobile access, fee payments, and password reset emails are still down. For urgent registration issues, email techsupport@pblpanthers.org. Thank you for your patience!
22 days ago, Justin Benda

We cannot wait to meet all of our incoming freshmen!

22 days ago, Melinda Busby
Freshman Orientation

Online Registration is coming soon!

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, July 21st to get registered online for the upcoming year.

In the meantime, check out our school supply lists here:
Clara Peterson: http://bit.ly/3T2p5i9
Junior High: https://bit.ly/4poGVHY
High School: https://bit.ly/4vBWePc

29 days ago, Justin Benda
Online Registration Coming Soon

🤼 Calling all wrestlers! Our PBL Wrestling Team is hosting a camp for boys and girls of all ages. You won't want to miss this event! Sign up today.

about 1 month ago, Justin Benda
wrestling
We are hiring! Paraprofessionals aide in fostering student growth, assist with classroom management, and provide extra support to our students and teachers. See additional information below! A link to the PBL Application can be found here: https://aptg.co/_lKYqg
about 1 month ago, Hannah Eshleman
2026-2027 Paraprofessional Openings
🚌 First Student is Now Hiring School Bus Drivers for PBL!

Looking for a rewarding job with a great schedule? Join the First Student team in Paxton! Enjoy paid training, competitive pay, and weekends and school holidays off!
about 1 month ago, Melinda Busby
First Student Hiring

We are seeking an exceptional educator to join our Special Education department. In this role, you will design and implement programming focused on empowering students with critical life skills, fostering independence, and supporting their unique learning journeys.

What we’re looking for:

A certified Special Education teacher (or eligible for LBS1 certification).

A collaborative mindset and strong communication skills.

A passion for student advocacy and individualized learning.

Apply today or view the full job description here: Functional Life Skills Teacher

about 1 month ago, Melinda Busby
Hiring FLS

🎉 HONORING A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE! 🎉

Today, at our end-of-year Teacher Institute lunch, the PBL School District family came together to do something incredibly special: celebrate our wonderful retiring educators! 🚌❤️

These incredible individuals have dedicated their hearts, minds, and countless hours to shaping the futures of PBL students. While we are sad to see them leave our hallways, we are endlessly grateful for the lasting impact they have left on our schools, our staff, and our community.

🌟 Happy Retirement to Our PBL Legends! 🌟

Mr. Mike White – Thank you for your years of dedication, wisdom, and the endless hands on experiences you provided our students.

Mrs. Vicki St. Peter – Your passion for teaching has left a mark on generations of Panthers.

Mrs. Amy Teske – Thank you for being an amazing colleague, mentor, and wealth of knowledge.

To our retirees: May your next chapter be filled with relaxation, new adventures, sleeping in on Mondays, and the knowledge that you truly made a difference. You will always be a part of the PBL family! 💙💛

Along with celebrating our retiring staff, we honored all teachers with a years of service pin. Check out the Google Photo Album for pictures from the year end celebration: Teacher Institute

3 months ago, Taylor Flynn
St. Peter
Amy Teske
Mike White