Thirty-five Moorhead Area Public Schools employees retired throughout the 2021-22 school year. The combined years the employees worked at the district totals almost 815.
The collective impact these educators and staff members have had on students cannot be measured. The school district is grateful for the countless hours of dedication and passion each person brought to the team.
The positions and years of service for the retirees all differ, but the passion for their work is constant. Janelle Frost-Geiser retired from teaching after 32 years. She made many memories with her co-workers at Horizon Middle School. She said, “Remember that students come with different stories. Use your humor and compassion, and be a good listener. These students will remember you for years to come. Make sure it’s a good, positive memory!”
Janel Simonson is retiring as a school counselor after 25 years at Moorhead Area Public Schools. She shared a powerful reminder of the impact school staff have on students. "Over my years in the district, I was the school counselor to about 10,000 students and their families. This past December, I had a former student that I had in my first years at Moorhead Junior High contact me. She said she had never forgotten the kindness and help that I gave to her, her mom and grandma. She is now a parent in the district!"
Wendy Paulson is an occupational therapist at S.G. Reinertsen and Dorothy Dodds. She retires this May after 31 years at Moorhead Area Public Schools. “I will miss working with my students, seeing the progress they make and the funny things they say,” Paulson said. “I will miss my co-workers, fellow therapists, and seeing all the people I encounter each day.”
Help Moorhead Area Public Schools celebrate all 2021-22 retirees. Check out Moorhead Schools on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter to see these retirees featured throughout the summer.
| Ken Appel, 32 years | Kim Bergley, 7 years | Richard Bergley, 4 years |
| Amy Biller, 38 years | Kim Brosdahl, 11 years | Winifred Evensen, 34 years |
| Elisabeth Ferguson, 24 years | Janelle Frost-Geiser, 32 years | Barb Gerlach, 28 years
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| Jodi Gramlow, 16 years | Robin Grooters, 23 years | Dawn Gunderson, 34 years |
| Colleen Hoffman, 12 years | Norma Holland, 28 years | Fareeda Jari, 6 years |
| Kim Jenni, 33 years | Charles Jordan, 4 years | Jim Kapitan, 28 years |
| Kathy Kunkel, 12 years | Jon Larson, 20 years | Paula Lewis, 32 years |
| Charlene Lien, 32 years | Scott Matheson, 33 years | Steve Novacek, 22 years |
| Wendy Paulson, 31 years | Brian Rheault, 34 years | Shannon Rieder, 33 years |
| Minda Sadlowski, 20 years | Susan Simmons, 12 years | Janel Simonson, 25 years |
| Alice Swanson, 31 years | Eric Tollefson, 32 years | Rosa Valdez, 12 years |
| Treva Watnemo, 23 years | Lori Wenner, 16 years |