You might recognize her as the smiling face you notice first thing in the morning, but Mrs. Wilmer’s quiet manner is only a prelude to her true, sincere kindness that is manifest in only a finite number of people. North Penn’s receptionist and secretary, Mrs. Linda Witmer, is retiring this month, after 20 years in North Penn School District.

In high school Witmer was quite an active student. She grew up in Lancaster and was a cheerleader, played field hockey, and was in the band. After she graduated high school she attended junior college.

Before her career in North Penn School District, Witmer lived in Lancaster with her family while working at a CPA firm.  She moved to the Lansdale area in 1988 and was hired for another job at a CPA firm. Witmer’s son attended North Penn High School and graduated in 2000. Her oldest son attended Christopher Dock after they moved from Lancaster, because “North Penn was a culture shock” from Lancaster.

Witmer has worked in the district for 20 years, with14 of those years being at North Penn High school. Prior to the high school, she worked as an attendance secretary at Nash Elementary School.

“I always call those [students] my ‘Nash kids’; I watched [them] come up through the elementary school and then come to the high school, so it was fun to see [them] grow.”

When asked about her favorite part of working here, her reply was sincere and genuine: “Meeting the people, and the students,” she said.

During the course of the busy day at NPHS, Witmer greets students, faculty, and guests, answers the telephones, does working papers, and keeps the school organized. In a few words, “I assist however I can,” says Witmer. 

And of course when working at such a large school, she occasionally comes across some grouchy people while performing her job.

“There’s not many grouchy people but you do get one or two. I try to keep smiling and just keep an even kee,l and it works,” she says with a smile.

Witmer She says she’ll always remember “just how nice the people and students are.” She says she’ll miss the kids and her friends.

But Witmer won’t miss waking up at five in the morning, she says. She doesn’t have “a whole lot of plans,” but she plans to do some traveling.

“We have a house, we call it the ‘creek house’ up in Tioga County along Big Pine, so we’ll spend time up there and I have a little grandbaby who’s eight months old so I’m really looking forward to spending a lot more time with her,” says Witmer.

She also hopes to spend more time at the beach, travel to California, and travel out West to see the Grand Canyon.

Without a doubt, it will be different at North Penn High School without the smile and sincerity Mrs. Witmer maintained day in and day out as the first face many people see coming into North Penn High School.