Penny Whiteaker was an educator for 37 years, with 27 at Norcross where she served as chair of the Health and Physical Education Department. She was an assistant basketball and tennis coach, sponsored the Student Council and Junior Civitan Club and started a faculty wellness program. Both of her children attended NHS, and she was active in the Band Boosters. She was also well-known for baking thousands of cupcakes for school groups.