Galen Clow prepares for retirement as the Grygla/Goodridge School District Superintendent

Before we get to the “NOW” part of this, let’s take a fun look back at “THEN!” This article was taken from an August 1998 issue of the Grygla Eagle.

Superintendent Galen Clow now on duty in Grygla & Good-ridge

(August 1998) Galen Clow began his duties this month as the new Superintendent for the Grygla & Goodridge School Districts. Clow, formerly Superintendent at Oklee Public School, replaces Sal Hoffert. Mr. Clow began his career in education in 1969 when he taught 5th grade at Stephen Public School. Since that time he has had experience in coaching, counseling, teaching and administrating. Galen graduated from Lancaster High School in 1965 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Moorhead State University. After a year of teaching public school in Stephen, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served from 1970-1974, stationed at an underground missile base in Little Rock, Arkansas.

After his service to the country, Galen went back to Lancaster where he was hired as a Chapter I teacher, athletic director and coach. He completed his Master of Science degree in K-12 Guidance and Counseling at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 1979, and began a position as a guidance counselor at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls that fall. 

In the spring of 1980, he took a job as Chapter I teacher and coach at Goodridge, while continuing to work as a guidance counselor at Lincoln. From 1983 to 1995, Clow was employed as a principal in the Win-E-Mac School system, spending the first eleven years in Erskine and the last year in McIntosh. During that time, he was able to obtain his elementary administration degree and superintendent certificate from the U of M in Duluth. For the past three years, he has been the superintendent/principal at Oklee Public Schools.

Galen, his wife, Cindy, and their 13-year-old daughter, Eryn, live in Thief River Falls.

Besides his career in education and administration, Galen enjoys basketball, tennis, music and golf. “I like working in rural schools and I like people,” he commented. He added that he was impressed with the facilities at Grygla and feels the district has good programs and a good staff. “I’m really looking forward to working here,” he said.

Present Day 

40 proms, 40 graduations, 80 concerts and plays, 450 games, 500 school board meetings and 350,000 miles of commuting…21 great years later, Mr. Galen Clow is gearing up to retire as the Superintendent for the Grygla and Goodridge School Districts. His final day in the office will be July 31st, 2019. Until that date, he will still be splitting his time between the Grygla and Goodridge Schools like he has been doing for the past couple of decades.  

He isn’t officially retiring as of right now; he prefers the word “resigning” as Galen plans to continue working in some capacity part-time. “I might be interested in trying something else…maybe working with homeless people,” he mentioned. Galen and his wife reside in Thief River Falls, but have future plans that include moving to the Moorhead area, as the couple’s daughter lives there, along with their three grandchildren.

What sticks out most in Galen’s mind as he thinks back on his years here is the welcoming attitude of the kids, the staff and the community. “Every single day has been so fun to come to work and I’ve honestly enjoyed every bit of it,” he reflected.

The Grygla/Gatzke School Board has approved Galen’s replacement, which will be current Grygla School Principal Jamie Lunsetter. “Jamie will do great in this position. We have worked very closely over the years and we’ll continue to work together through this transition and after; I’ll always be here through phone or email for him,” he said. 

Right now it’s full speed ahead right until the end! There are two audits coming up in July and new windows going in at the Grygla School, and a new gym floor going in at the Goodridge School, in addition to transitioning Mr. Jamie Lunsetter into his new role. At this point in time, the Goodridge School will be hiring their own Superintendent; Galen plans to stay on until that replacement has been hired. 

In closing, Galen wishes to express continued success to everyone in our school districts and added, “The teachers and staff in both schools have always been so helpful to the kids and to each other to make the places run very smoothly. They’ve always been progressive and that’s the fun part. Thank you to the students, staff and community members for giving me the opportunity to work here.”

A decision on the new principal position in Grygla could be decided as early as the June School Board meeting. 

A big thanks goes out to Mr. Galen Clow for his years of service and dedication to our school districts.