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Five outstanding educators have been selected for induction into the 2024 Grand Forks Public Schools Teachers Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony and reception will be held at 1 p.m. on October 6 at the Red River High School Theater, with a dessert reception to follow. This is event is free and open to the public. Join us and help us honor:Linda Christenson (posthumously) – Christenson was an educator for thirty years, inspiring students to appreciate, comprehend, and deeply connect with timeless literature. “Mrs. Christenson was hands down the best teacher I ever had. She had the intelligence of a college professor and the compassion of an elementary teacher. She was the reason I became inspired to become a teacher myself. I can only hope to someday become half the teacher she was.” She passed away in July 2004. Her husband, Duane Christenson, and her children will accept her induction in her honor.
Marlon “Buck” Kasowski – After serving as a math teacher and coach at South Junior from 1979 to 1994, associate principal at Valley Junior from 1994 to 1995, Kasowski served as an associate principal and principal at Grand Forks Central High School from 1995 to 2019. Buck’s impact on our schools and students is immeasurable. “His caring and compassionate nature made him more than just a principal; he was a mentor, role model, and a source of unwavering support. His ability to connect with students, staff, and parents on a personal level fostered a sense of belonging and unity within our school community. Buck Kasowski is truly one of a kind and very deserving of this honor.”
Dean Opp – Opp was a beloved speech and drama teacher at Red River High School from 1985 to 2020 and director of the Summer Performing Arts (SPA) program and summer school from 1988 to 2020. An excerpt from the 2020 yearbook, “Many people come to RRHS drama productions and think, ‘Cool show!’ but they don’t always realize how many months are spent planning, designing, creating, coaching, and preparing for a show. Dean Opp has left a huge mark on RRHS, and the theatre program at RRHS is better because Opp was a major part of it.”
Vicki Peake – Peake devoted her impressive 52-year career to teaching reading, health, English, and literature at Valley Middle School. “Mrs. Peake was one of those teachers who truly made an impact on her students. You knew when you entered her classroom that you would be held to high expectations but would also have fun, learn, and laugh. Mrs. Peake had a small stature but a bigger-than-life heart and personality. She was always happy and bubbly, and her voice and laugh are ones I won't forget.”
Brad Sherwood – Sherwood taught vocal music at Valley Junior from 1989 to 1992 and vocal music, guitar, and harmony at Red River High School from 1992 to 2020. Brad’s influence extended far beyond the classroom—he also served as the program director for the Summer Performing Arts (SPA) program and the district coordinator of music. “Brad is an amazing teacher who has changed the lives of so many students. He teaches them empathy and responsibility and gives them a passion for music. I’ve never met a finer educator who cares so deeply for the lives entrusted to him.”
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Red River High School, Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
