UNION CITY – Dr. Lisa Wendel said she is set to retire June 30, 2013. She has served as the superintendent of Mississinawa Valley Local School District for the past five years, with 25 years in education prior to that, she said.

“I feel honored to have been part of such a high quality school and community for such a long time. I have had the opportunity to work with what I consider to be the finest people in the world,” Wendel stated. “Any successes I have had during my tenure have been the result of a collaborative effort from staff, students, and community. I want to express my appreciation to all who supported me during my time at MV and made working here such a good experience.”

Wendel said that she doesn’t currently have any plans, aside from spending more time with her family, for her retirement.

Wendel first came to Mississinawa in 1990 as the elementary principal for the district, overseeing kindergarten through sixth grades, and working at both East Side Elementary and the middle school, she said. Following that, she was the principal for just fourth through eighth grades, until the district moved to the new building on State Route 47, at which time she returned to overseeing kindergarten through sixth grade, Wendel commented.

Wendel has been part of many projects and advancements at Mississinawa in her 24 years there, including beginning the eighth grade Washington D.C. trip, all-day kindergarten five days a week, and starting a preschool in the Mississinawa district, she remarked. Prior to coming to Mississinawa, Wendel was a guidance counselor and a teacher at Fort Recovery schools, she said.

While at Mississinawa, Wendel participated in the planning, development and move to a new K-12 facility, she added. Along with those accomplishments, she began a Taiko group, implemented eDays – the first program of its kind in the country, which changed Ohio law, and implemented Project Lead the Way, involving students in rigorous science, technology, engineering and mathematics at the middle school and high school levels, she said.

“She’ll be sorely missed by the entire board,” stated Mississinawa’s board of education president, Rick Scholl. “It’s unfortunate, but she’s done a very great job while she’s been here, she’s made a lot of progress…She’s taken great strides in a lot of areas, our elementary is going to be up to Excellent with Distinction this year. We hate to see anyone go who has made strides in that direction. She’s going to be a tough one to replace, but we wish her well.”