Pictured, left to right: school board president Linda McClure, board secretary De Wagner, and curriculum director Christian McClure at the Mount Union Area School District board meeting on September 15, 2025.
By SAYDE WISE | Journalism Student, Mount Union Area Senior High School
Mount Union, Pa. — “My first day in the district, September 19, 1977,” stated De Wagner. “My last day in the district will be September 19, 2025.” De Wagner was employed at the Mount Union Area School District for forty-eight years. Looking back through the district’s history, no one has devoted more years of service. Ms. Wagner shows that hard work and dedication pay off. She not only made history in the district, but also was recognized as Board Secretary of the Year in 2002. As Ms. Wagner reflected on her career, she had nothing but positive memories.
Throughout her career, Ms. Wagner has occupied several different positions. She began as an intern, then was hired as a board secretary assistant / accounts payable secretary, then finally moved to board secretary. This move occurred on March 8, 1978. Ms. Wagner loved the fact that she was able to stay in her comfort zone while doing what she was good at; this was a significant factor in her remaining with the district for so many years.
Ms. Wagner has played a vital role within the district. The position of board secretary requires meticulous attention to detail in various scenarios. When asked what skills were utilized the most during her time, she stated, “Patience, that is a big one. Also, the ability to multitask.” These are skills she brought to her role and ultimately mastered. Ms. Wagner encountered many changes in the district over the years. The biggest shift in the district, in her opinion, is technology. Other significant changes include the curricula and the increasing number of clearances and trainings that are required to remain employed.
When Ms. Wagner was asked what it has meant to her to be a part of MUASD, she replied, “MU Pride. I am proud of the district. It is one of the larger employers in the local area. It has been good to me and the community has been supportive.” Ms. Wagner also spoke about her gratitude for the board that hired her, and how she was blessed to have been given a chance. “I would hope they think I gave one hundred percent to the job, that I treated everyone with respect and welcomed them to the district,” she said of how she would like to be remembered. She spoke highly about her coworkers as well. She emphasized, “The people are what I will miss most about the job. The enthusiasm that our new staff members coming in bring.”
One of the most repetitive tasks of her position was signing her name; however, it became a privilege to her. “One of the things I have gotten to sign was the diplomas of the graduates for forty-seven years, and that was truly an honor.” Ms. Wagner genuinely loved her job, and this was evident in the way she spoke about her career at the Mount Union Area School District.
This article was published as part of Ms. Dimoff’s Journalism class at Mount Union Area Senior High School.
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