Missouri Elementary Honors Beloved Custodian by Naming the Entire School After Her: 'I Just Do It for the Kids'

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A Missouri school renamed its building after its beloved janitor, Claudene Wilson, who retired in July 2023. CBS Evening News/YouTube

A former janitor for an elementary-middle school in Missouri was swept off her feet when the school board unanimously voted to name their building after her in honor of 32 years of service.

The K-8 center, which is home to 40 students in the small town of Swedeborg, Missouri, was renamed to the "Claudene Wilson Learning Center" in August to commemorate Wilson's decades-long career in which she moonlighted as the school's handywoman, plumber, bus driver, and therapist when the kids needed her, CNN reported.

"I'm not here to say I'm a hero. I'm not. It's an honor to work here," Wilson told CNN. "I just do it for the kids."

The school board's president, Chuck Boren, was an eighth grader when Wilson joined the school's staff in 1992, and 14-year-old son, Canaan, was also fortunate enough to have met and learned from Wilson.

"It's not just that the school was part of Claudene, but Claudene is part of the school," Boren told CNN. "They go hand in hand with the community, as close-knit as we are. I couldn't think of a better tribute to her."

Originally published by Latin Times

Tags School, Kids

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