Moorhead Area Public Schools superintendent Dr. Brandon Lunak paid a Friday afternoon visit to Dorothy Dodds Elementary to present the September 2025 Spud Spirit Award to first grade teacher Casey Brand. Casey is in her 20th year of service with the district.
Dr. Lunak joined Dodds assistant principal Meagan Blake to surprise the long-time educator near the end of the week, delighting her first graders as everyone prepared for the weekend.
“Casey is humble and is self motivated by observing her students’ academic, social and behavioral progress,” said Dr. Lunak, sharing her nominator’s words. “She is dedicated to making a difference for her learners and shows them that she will always be there for them. She is the kindest human I have met. When Casey attends events in the community, I admire how many current and former students greet her because of the connection she made with them."
The effusive praise from her nomination brought tears to Mrs. Brand’s eyes.
Dr. Lunak went on to share a story passed along by her nominator: “Casey is in her 20th year of teaching and is so adaptable to new methods of educating today’s youth. She spent countless hours preparing and contacting families for distance learning during COVID. Casey would assist families in getting connected so their children could be educated. When her learners did not show up in their Google Meets, she contacted the family to ensure they had everything they needed set up so that their child could join the group.”
Casey’s efforts to provide equitable education to all and the lasting connections she forges with her students and families are highly representative of the district’s mission to develop the maximum potential of every student to thrive in a changing world.
The Spud Spirit Award is a recognition program that honors MAPS staff who live by the district mission to develop the maximum potential of every learner to thrive in a changing world and showcase our Spud Spirit statements:
Students, staff, parents, families, and the Moorhead community
Passionate, engaged, innovative, and growing in safe environments
Unique, worthy, respectful, and relationship-based
Diversity enriches our school and community
Stewards of the public’s trust in effective and efficient operations
Spud Spirit Award nominations are made by staff, student families and community members. Nominations are open at the beginning of each semester during the school year.