BALDWIN mdash; Donella Wagner, the head custodian at Raintree Elementary School in Baldwin, has been named the 2026 National Recognizing Inspiring School Employees, or RISE, Award honoree.nbsp;Wagner was honored with the award by U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon on Thursday.nbsp;The RISE A ward recognizes education support professionals across the country, including custodians, bus drivers, secretaries and more.nbsp;Wagner has served in several positions in her more than 27-year career in schools. Beyond her custodial duties, Wagner volunteers for bus duty, mentors young boys in the Boys 'n Bows program, serves local seniors and more.ldquo;Education support professionals like Ms. Wagner are the backbone of our schools and local communities,rdquo; McMahon said. ldquo;It was a joy to learn about Ms. Wagnerrsquo;s dedication not only to Raintree Elementary School where she greets every student with a smile, but also to the entire Baldwin community. We are very proud to honor and recognize her as the 2026 National RISE Award honoree ndash; it is well deserved!rdquo;McMahon received 36 eligible nominations from more than 20 participating states and jurisdictions this year. Each state can nominate up to two of its top classified employees.nbsp;2026 marks the sixth year the award has been given out.nbsp;Permalink| Comments ...read more read less