Missouri Elementary School was renamed after Custodian Miss Claudene

Claudene Wilson is known as a jack-of-all-trades in the community of Swedeborg, Missouri (pop. 497).

Officially, 64-year-old Wilson is a janitor and bus driver at the local elementary school, where she has worked tirelessly for more than thirty years. But you also see her serving meals in the cafeteria, making repairs in the building and comforting crying students.

“Claudene will do anything for those children,” said Sweden Superintendent Jim Bogle TODAY.comnoting that Wilson is the first to arrive in the morning and one of the last to leave.

“One of the children said, ‘When I grow up, I want to be Miss Claudene.’ And I know he’s not the only one who thinks this way,” Bogle said. “She’s a celebrity here.”

A celebrity who hates attention.

“She doesn’t like recognition,” Bogle says.

“Shame!” he adds with a laugh. Bogle is referring to the fact that Wilson made national news after the Swedeborg School Board voted unanimously to rename the elementary school building after her.

“I was shocked – absolutely shocked,” Wilson says TODAY. “There’s not much to say other than I’m honored.”

Although Wilson claims she is “retired,” she is still on campus every day. Not only does Wilson know each student by name, she also knows the names of their parents.

“Most kids, I had their moms and dads, and when they go to school, they say, ‘I already know about you!’ says Wilson.

What adds to Wilson’s popularity: She is not above offering bribes.

“I say, ‘You raise your grades and I’ll give you something special, like a sucker or a candy bar,’” Wilson says.

After the Swedeborg School District page shared the new school name on Facebook, the page was flooded with comments.

“Congratulations Mrs. Claudene! You were a huge part of my childhood and you always pushed us kids to always be our best. No one deserves recognition like this more than you,” one person wrote.

Other responses included:

• “There is no one more deserving of this honor.”
• “Congratulations Mrs. Claudene! You were a huge part of my childhood and you always pushed us kids to always be our best. No one deserves more recognition in this way than you.”
• “If anyone in the world deserves it, it’s her. Congratulations!”
• “Kudos to Ms. Claudene!!! She treated me so well during the six years I was at the Swedeborg library.”
• “Thank you Claudene for your exceptional service and dedication to the students and staff.”
• “I love that woman! She’s known me since I was about two feet tall.”

For Spirit Day earlier this month, three students came dressed as Miss Claudene, which should come as no surprise. Like Bogle said, she’s a celebrity.