SOUTH WHITLEY — Warsaw Community Schools Chief Financial Officer Dr. Brandon Penrod will soon put away his calculator in order to head up the Whitko Community Schools as its new superintendent, beginning next month.

Penrod, 41, currently lives north of Fort Wayne and is married to Michelle with six sons. He is a 1995 graduate of Columbia City High School. He was named CFO of Warsaw Community Schools in 2016. Michelle Penrod is employed with East Allen County Schools.

Brandon Penrod

“I think the fact that I’m taking this position back in the county where I graduated is certainly significant,” he said. “However, I’m most interested in bringing the communities of South Whitley, Pierceton and Larwill together as one community.”

Penrod will take over the helm of a school district that has seen some divisions among the three main communities. The three towns are often on opposing sides in terms of school locations.

Penrod began in education as the athletic director of Prairie Heights High School, following in his father’s footsteps, longtime Columbia City High School A.D. Geoff Penrod. He also taught science in the Whitley County Consolidated Schools system and was also an assistant principal in the Manchester Community Schools system. Penrod is a graduate of Indiana-Purdue at Fort Wayne and holds a doctorate from Indiana University.

Penrod will begin his duties as Superintendent of Whitko Community Schools Oct. 1.