Honoring a Super Superintendent
Children of the late Grand Forks Superintendent Dr. Elroy H. Schroeder give back to their father’s passion.
A group of students eagerly gathered around Dean Schroeder, his wife, Karen, and brother, Dave, during their visit to Schroeder Middle School, asking about the man behind their school’s name — the late Elroy H. Schroeder, ’26, ’35. The brothers shared stories about their father, a UND graduate whose leadership shaped education in Grand Forks and across North Dakota.
After teaching in rural schools, Elroy earned his bachelor’s degree in 1926, the same year he became the Grand Forks County superintendent. In 1933, he was named superintendent of Grand Forks Public Schools, serving in that position until his death in 1958. Known for his vision, Elroy helped establish the North Dakota Teacher Retirement Fund and helped launch KNOX radio and KNOX-TV.
Dean (left) and David (right) were interviewed by Schroeder Middle School students for a video project as part of the school’s media class.
This portrait of Elroy H. Schroeder hangs on the wall of Schroeder Middle School beside a plaque.
Elroy’s sudden passing at age 59 was a shock to his family – Dean was a junior in high school and Dave a freshman at UND. Just a few years later, the school board voted to name a new junior high in Grand Forks after him.
“Board President Harry Rice called our mother and said, ‘We’re thinking about naming the new school south of town,’” Dean recalled. “After some discussion, she said, ‘Well, we’d be very pleased with that.’”
In 1961, Schroeder Middle School opened. At the time, it was surrounded by farmland and dirt roads. Now, it’s centrally located, nestled among neighborhoods that have grown around it.
Elroy’s values guided both of his sons’ careers. Dave pursued radio engineering, an interest that began as a teenager broadcasting church services over the radio waves. After earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UND, and later a doctorate in psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, Dean taught at various schools and colleges while running a clinical practice.
Education also shaped the life of Dean’s wife, Karen. “I couldn’t afford college when I was young,” she said. “That’s why helping students now is so important to me.” With her husband’s encouragement, she completed her college degree after raising her sons and working for Laramie County School District in Wyoming.
The Schroeders — Dean, ’64, ’65, Karen, and Dave, ..’61 — have established two endowments to support UND students and continue their father's legacy in Grand Forks.
Together, the next generation of Schroeders is continuing Elroy’s mission to serve students by giving to UND. In 2009, Dean and Karen established an endowment to support graduate students in Counseling Psychology and Community Services within the College of Education & Human Development (CEHD). They recently affirmed their support with a legacy gift. In 2023, Dean and Dave established the Dr. Elroy H. Schroeder Endowment for CEHD priority needs, funded with resources from their trust.
For the Schroeders, giving to UND continues Elroy’s mission to serve students and inspire them to take their education to the next level.
“As an educator, I see that education is continuous. It’s not start and stop,” Dean said. “The idea of something ongoing is sort of like having a certificate of deposit in a bank. You know that you’re going to get some money out of that every year, and if you leave it in there, it’s going to pay back.”
As an educator, I see that education is continuous. It’s not start and stop.Dean Schroeder, ’64, ’65
Schroeder Middle School is now the largest middle school in Grand Forks, with over 560 enrolled in grades 6-8.
Leave a Legacy at UND
There are many different ways to give back to UND and provide financial support. Creating an endowment in memory of a loved one is one of them. Join the Schroeders in finding a way to celebrate your loved one's life and legacy at UND.
