Emily Hartman, a lifelong Perry Township resident, is a 1996 graduate of Perry Meridian High School. Emily attended Purdue University and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Affairs with an emphasis in Human Resources. Since 2003 Emily has worked at Community South Hospital as the Administrative Coordinator for Surgical Services. Emily has served as President, Vice President and Treasurer for the Burkhart Elementary PTA. Emily is married to Joe, a 1994 graduate of Perry Meridian High School. Together they are raising their four school-aged children; GraceAnn, Josiah, Lydia and Amelia.

A 1987 graduate of Perry Meridian High School, Ken Mertz has lived in Perry Township since 1976. In 1991, Ken graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication. After college, Ken acquired invaluable training and experience while employed by IBM, Lego, and Chase. Presently, Ken serves as Vice-President in his family’s business. He’s happily married to Jennifer, who graduated from Perry Meridian High School in 1989, Indiana University in 1993, and Indiana University School of Law in 1998. Jennifer currently serves as Senior Majority Counsel with the Indiana Senate. Jennifer and Ken have two children — a son, Nathan and a daughter, Emily.

Jim Hernandez is originally from Gary, Indiana and graduated from Merrillville High School. After graduating from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (Accounting), Jim moved to the Indianapolis area to attend law school at Indiana University School of Law at Indianapolis. Jim began his career after graduating law school in the tax department at the national public accounting firm of Coopers & Lybrand where he earned his CPA certification. In the next phase of his career, Jim served in various managerial, Vice President, Senior Vice President and Trust Counsel positions in the Trust Department of local banks that experienced a succession of mergers. Jim then went into the private practice of law on the southside of Indianapolis where he initially practiced with and for Aline Anderson, and later R. Ronald Calkins, before establishing his own practice, James H. Hernandez, Attorney At Law, LLC. He concentrates his practice on estate planning and administration, guardianships, taxation and business entities. He is a frequent speaker and presenter on his areas of practice for various legal education organizations, schools and private organizations and companies. Jim has two sons, Danny and Nick, who attended Perry Township schools into Southport High School. Jim’s sister, who moved to Indianapolis, had a son and daughter who attended Perry Township schools into Perry Meridian High School. Jim became very involved donating time and efforts to various academic, arts and sports functions. He has been very involved in youth sports in the community in various capacities, as a coach, instructor, travel team organizer and Board member (including Southport Little League and Indiana Amateur Baseball Association/Playball Indiana). Jim strives to continue to give back and maintain this important legacy. Jim is married to Janet, who is a nurse working in drug research. In addition to Jim’s two children, Janet has three children, and together they have six grandchildren.

*Jim Hernandez served on the Perry Township Board of Education from January 2019 to December 2022. The board voted unanimously to select Jim to fulfill a vacant seat on the board. Jim was officially sworn in on June 6, 2023.

Steve Johnson is a graduate of Elizabethtown High School in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Steve is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard, attended Eastern Kentucky University and earned his BA Degree majoring in history and education. He holds two Masters Degrees from Indiana University. His professional education career spans 30 years teaching Social Studies at Perry Meridian High School. Steve is married to Lynne, a retired teacher from Glenns Valley Elementary. They have a son Alex, a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and an Air Force Officer; and a daughter Stephanie, an MBA student at Colorado State University. Both are graduates of Perry Meridian.

Lee Shively, a beneficiary of the education provided by Perry Township Schools as a 2002 graduate of Perry Meridian High School, attended IUPUI and earned a B.S. in Secondary Education in 2006. He brings more than 15 years of experience as an educator in Marion County public schools with time spent in IPS, Speedway Schools and Beech Grove Schools. Having lived in Perry Township for more than two-thirds of his life, he knows firsthand the awesome opportunities provided by Perry Township Schools and looks forward to enhancing them as a board member. Lee and his wife Brianne, who is a third-generation graduate of Perry Township Schools (Brianne, PMHS 2002; her father Brian, PMHS 1975; her grandfather Donald, SHS 1943) have three children who currently attend Perry Township Schools.

Rev. Hre Mang lives with his family, wife Lynda Tumpar, and two sons Ginny Zalan Mang and Moses Cung Hlei Mang. He serves as the senior pastor of Falam Christian Church of Indianapolis, a member of Southern Baptist Convention, since 2009. His two children started their school and finished their high school in Perry Township Schools. He holds Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) and Master of Theology (M.Th.) degree from India and Bachelor of Political Science (B.A.) from Hartwick College, New York, and Master of Public Affairs (M.P.A.) degree from Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indiana, USA. He also earned his post graduate degree of Ph.D. in leadership from Tennessee Temple University in 2015. Hre Mang is a pastor, speaker, and trainer, traveling around the world for training and speaking. Hre also serves other volunteer positions such as the Vice President of Cobblestone Village Homeowner Association, the Vice President of Crossroad Baptist Association, and as a member of the Board of directors of Indianapolis Theological Seminary.