Deborah Adams, director of special
education and gifted education, retired
after 13 years with the District.
Adams holds a bachelor’s degree in
special education from Clarion University
of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in
special education and credits in early
childhood and special education from
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
and supervisory certification in special
education and credits in early childhood education from Slippery
Rock University.
She joined the District in 2003 as an IEP facilitator before being
named interim special education supervisor in 2007. In 2009, she
became assistant special education supervisor, then assistant
director of special education and gifted education in 2009, and
director of special education and gifted education in 2015.
Prior to coming to Mars Area, she served as a special education
teacher at Butler Area School District and worked in a state
institution for children with disabilities.
In her retirement, she plans to spend more time with her
grandchildren.
Janet Adams, a physics teacher at Mars
Area High School, retired after 26 years
with the District.
Adams, holds a bachelor’s degree in
secondary German from Indiana University
of Pennsylvania, an associate’s degree in
engineering science from Community
College of Allegheny County and a
mathematics education certification
from Towson State University (Towson,
Md.). She also completed a curriculum and instruction graduate
program at Western Maryland College. In addition she holds
teaching certification in general science, German, mathematics
and physics.
She served the District in several capacities, beginning as
a mathematics teacher in 1991. In 1993, she began teaching
math and general sc ience, taught math and physical science
(1995), math/science (1996), science (1998), German/general
science/math/physics (2001), general science (2002), and physics
beginning in 2003.
Charlesa Fassinger, a French and
gifted education teacher at Mars Area
High School, retired after 29 years with the
District.
Fassinger holds a bachelor’s degree in
secondary education and French from the
California University of Pennsylvania. She
also participated in post-graduate studies
in French education at the University of
Pittsburgh.
She served as a substitute teacher in the District for 12 year before
joining the Mars Area faculty in 1988 as a gifted education facilitator
(grades 7 through 12) at Mars Area Middle School and Mars Area
High School, then at the high school only beginning in 1994. In
1999, she began also teaching French III and Advanced French IV.
In addition, she served as faculty sponsor of Mars Area High
School’s National Honor Society (NHS) program and Thespians
Club and has directed the school’s plays and musicals since 1978.
In 2015, Mars Area High School’s production of Shrek the Musical
received a Henry Mancini Musical Theatre Award for Outstanding
Overall Performance.
Fassinger is a recipient of the 2016-2017 Pennsylvania
Association of School Retirees (PASR) Butler Chapter Lauretta
Woodson Award and a 2016 St. Vincent College Great Teacher
Award.
She and her family live in Cranberry Township.
Diane Iman, a business education
teacher at Mars Area High School, retired
after 28 years with the District.
Iman, who holds a bachelor’s degree
in business administration as well as a
business education certification from
Robert Morris University, began with the
District as long-term substitute teacher
at Mars Area High School during the
1989-1990 School Year, before joining the
District as a permanent business education teacher in 1991.
She has served as a FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
advisor, class sponsor, SADD/REACH (Responsible Educated
Adolescents Can Help) sponsor, a curriculum leader, and a
cheerleading sponsor.
As a work study coordinator for diversified occupation students,
Iman and the late Roberta “Bobbi” Tritch, guidance counselor, who
was serving as work study coordinator for office administration
students, organized a student-run business, for which the students
assumed administrative and secretarial roles or were in charge of
manufacturing, purchasing and shipping.
“It was a great way to bring real world experience into the
classroom,” she says, noting that work stations, reception desks
and administrative offices were set up between two classrooms.
In her retirement, Iman plans to travel.
Margie Mueser, a front office secretary
at Mars Area Elementary School, retired
after 24 years in the District.
Mueser served for 11 years as the library
secretary at Adams Elementary School and
Middlesex Elementary School, then for 13
years as a library and front office secretary
at Mars Area Elementary School.
In her retirement, Mueser plans to spend
time with her grandsons and to travel. She
is a resident of Adams Township.
Mars Area | Fall 2017 | icmags.com 47
As the 2016-2017 School Year came to a close, Mars Area School District
said goodbye to several retiring staff members:
District Bids Farewell to
Retiring Staff Members