Dorothy Dodds Elementary ribbon cutting
There will be a ribbon cutting for a Moorhead elementary school named after a 1945 Moorhead State Teachers College alumna and educator, Dorothy Dodds. The event will be Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 3:30 p.m. Tours of the facility will follow.
Dorothy Dodds Elementary is the Moorhead School District’s newest kindergarten through fourth grade school. The elementary school opened this fall and holds 750 students. It is located at 4400 24th Ave. S.
Dodds graduated from Moorhead High School in 1941 and earned an elementary education degree at then-Moorhead State Teachers College in 1945. She also earned a master’s degree in education from Colorado State University in 1948.
“Dorothy always spoke with reverence about young children; she knew they have great value and importance in our world,” said Coleen Roller, School of Teaching and Learning academic advisor. “Through that reverence and intelligence, Dorothy was able to promote Early Childhood Education on the campus of MSU and throughout the state of Minnesota, and the region. She had the research and ability to convince legislatures in both Minnesota and North Dakota of the importance of Early Education and Kindergarten in our Public Schools.”
Dodds was a staple on campus, teaching kindergarten at the Moorhead State Campus School from 1949 until it closed in 1972, then joining MSUM’s education department until retiring in 1986. She died in December 2012.
“Dorothy was one of those rare people that sought out the gifts of each person she came in contact with, she noted each person’s abilities, their struggles, and their genius; she seemed to bring out the best in each individual. She continued these observations into her retirement and into her old age. It was a joy to be in the presence of Dorothy,” Roller said.
Read more about the ribbon cutting ceremony and Dodds’ legacy:
- School district to celebrate new elementary school with ribbon cutting
- Moorhead honors former Spud by naming school after her
- Dorothy Dodds obituary