Cathleen Wagner taught kindergarten at Columbiana's Joshua Dixon Elementary School for more than 30 years. She died Wednesday morning from complications due to the H1N1 virus.
Superintendent Don Mook said Cathie was recognized for many educational contributions locally and statewide, including the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics.
"The Columbiana school system ... has a great loss today," Mook said. "A tragic loss for the community, a tragic loss for the school system."
Mook said Wagner had been out sick for the past month, spending the last three weeks in the Cleveland Clinic.
"A long-time educator with Columbiana schools, has touched the lives of countless numbers of teachers, community members, students," he said. "Just a tremendous asset to our building and to our schools and we're all grieving her loss at this time."
Mook said the district has taken every precaution against the H1N1 virus since the beginning of this school year.
"We continue to wash down sinks, water fountains, restrooms, we've changed all of our hand sanitizers," Mook said.
Right now, he said their concern is for Wagner's family and helping staff and students through the grieving process. Grief counselors will stay in the schools for the next few days.
