What's in a name? - Moorhead's Public Schools

By: Petra Gunderson-Leith

Names are special, doubly so for public schools. They help you identify share experiences and "figure out" someone you may have just met. Moorhead's elementary schools are named after several important figures who devoted themselves to education or other endeavors. Here are their stories.

Ellen Hopkins Elementary

Ellen “Nellie” Hopkins was a beloved teacher in Moorhead for many years. Hopkins was born in 1875 in Brainerd but moved to Moorhead with her family as a baby. She graduated from Moorhead High School in 1896 and attended the Moorhead State Normal School (now MSUM). She started her teaching career in the rural schools of Clay County, including Winnipeg Junction and School District # 8 in Moland Township. She spent most of her career as a teacher and later principal at the First Ward School in Moorhead, which was renamed Hopkins School in 1938. Each year, Hopkins hosted a picnic for students and their families and was known for piling kids in her car, Henrietta, and driving them to school events. One student said, “Once you have had her as a teacher, you will never forget her.” Hopkins retired in 1938 but continued to partake in her other passions, including performing in local theatrical productions.
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Dorothy Dodds Elementary School
Dorothy Dodds was born in 1923 in Lisbon, ND. The Dodds family moved to Moorhead when she was a teenager, and she graduated from Moorhead High School in 1941. She earned a degree in elementary education from the Moorhead State Teachers College (now MSUM). Following her undergraduate degree, she attended Colorado State University, earning a master's degree in 1948. She returned to Moorhead and spent her life improving the lives of local children. She taught young children at the MSTC campus school until 1972. Dodds shaped many future educators as a professor at MSUM. Beyond teaching, Dodds was a passionate advocate for early childhood education and childcare. After retirement in 1986, Dodds stayed busy taking care of neighborhood children and volunteering with local organizations.


S.G. Reinertson Elementary School
Stephanus Gustavus (“S.G.” or “Steve”) Reinertsen was born in Illinois in 1890 but grew up in South Dakota. He graduated from St. Olaf College in 1911 and earned a master’s degree from the University of Colorado. Reinertsen was named superintendent of Moorhead Public Schools in 1926. Before coming to Moorhead, he had served as superintendent in towns throughout Minnesota, Iowa, and Montana. While in Moorhead,
Reinertsen oversaw the expansion of the Moorhead School District and was one of the founders of the school patrol. Reinertsen retired in 1955.
Robert Asp Elementary School
Robert “Bob” Asp was born and raised in Thief River Falls and Goodridge, MN. He served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1947. He came to Moorhead to attend Concordia College after his service, graduating in 1952. He taught various subjects in the Moorhead Public Schools before becoming a guidance counselor. While many remember Asp as a teacher and counselor, he is best remembered for fulfilling his dream of building a Viking ship: the Hjemkomst. Visit the Hjemkomst Center to learn all about Bob and his dream!


Probstfield Elementary School
Randolph Probstfield became one of the first white settlers in Clay County when he arrived in 1859. He held many jobs in his life- postmaster, experimental farmer, and state senator. Probstfield valued education and was a lifelong learner. The family held intellectual gatherings for neighbors in Oakport Township, and Probstfield was responsible for building the first schoolhouse in the County. To learn more about the Probstfield family, check out By The Sweat of His Brow by Carroll Engelhardt.