New 2025-2026 educators at RWHS

You will have a chance to meet Red Wing High School's new counselors and teachers and connect with returning teachers at the open house on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

After working in their classrooms and offices in the morning, teachers, counselors and administrators will be available to meet with students and parents/guardians from noon to 7 p.m.

"Sunny" days are good days on the water for Clara Ballard.

Position: High school counselor

Experience: First year counselor

Education: Bachelor of Science (Psychology) University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Master of Education (School Counseling) UWRF

What are your hopes as you join Red Wing Public Schools?

I am hoping to get to know the students and staff so that I may learn the best ways to support this community.

What do you want your students to know from Day 1?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out or knock on my door if you have any questions, need anything, or just want to say hello. I am very excited to get started!

When did you realize that you wanted to be in education?

My mom was a school social worker and she has been my role model. I grew up shadowing her at work and always enjoyed that. I think I ended up following in her footsteps and I found that I loved working with students and that counseling was my path.

What were you involved in at school?

When I was in high school I played flute in the school band, participated in drama club, and took as many art classes as I could.

Darcy Bock is no stranger to Red Wing, having explored many seasons here.

Position: Special education teacher

Experience: I have been teaching in the field of special education for 28 years

Education: Minnesota State University Moorhead/St. Cloud State University

What are your hopes as you join Red Wing Public Schools?

My hopes are to build relationships with students and staff that are meaningful. I also look forward to continuing to be a lifelong learner through learning from students and staff.

What do you want your students to know from Day 1?

I am a compassionate teacher that truly cares about her students.

When did you realize that you wanted to teach?

I realized that I wanted to teach in the third grade. Growing up I used to play teacher in my basement with my dolls as the students.

What’s a first day of school memory?

In the 2nd grade, I transferred to another school and was so worried that I would not know anyone. As I entered the classroom on that first day I saw my friend from the school I transferred from. She and I are still friends today.

Christina Frye's nephews just turned 10 this summer. They live in the Seattle area and visit her in the Midwest every summer.

Position: High Ssool counselor

\Experience: 22 years school counseling experience, 20 years at the elementary level and two years at the high school Level.

Education: BA Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Stout, MA School Guidance and Counseling, UW -tout

What are your hopes as you join Red Wing Public Schools?

I’m excited to join the Red Wing High School and bring my skills and experience to enhance the School Counseling Department. I hope to make connections with students and families. I look forward to working in teams with staff at Red Wing High School.

What do you want your students to know from Day 1?

I will always be honest with you and I hope you feel comfortable enough to be honest with me. I encourage all students to come in and meet me and give me the opportunity to meet you.

When did you realize that you wanted work in education?

I have always wanted to work with kids in some way. As I was exploring my options of different areas that I could go into with a degree in Psychology, I took a class and one of the assignments was to job shadow a school counselor. I called my middle school counselor that I had in school and asked if I could shadow him for a day. I loved that experience and felt right away that it was what I was meant to do. That experience reaffirmed my decision to go into school counseling.

What’s your first day of school memory?

I was so excited to start kindergarten that I wanted to go to school with my older brother when I was 4 years old. I couldn’t wait until it was my turn to start school. I had the best kindergarten teacher.

Nina Kriese brings international and local experiences to a full-time teaching post in Red Wing.

Position: Spanish & world languages teacher

Experience: Long-term subbing RWPS and two years teaching English as a foreign language in a public school in Ecuador

Education: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire bachelor’s in Spanish Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

What are your hopes as you join Red Wing Public Schools?

My hopes as I (re)join Red Wing Public Schools is to create a safe learning environment in my classroom for my students, encourage students to learn new languages, and be active in the community.

What do you want your students to know from Day 1?

I’m excited to meet all my students and build a fun community in my classroom.

When did you realize that you wanted to teach?

I decided I wanted to teach my junior year of high school at Red Wing High School.

What’s your first day of school memory?

A very memorable first day of school for me was my first day teaching in Ecuador. It was very exciting and very scary because there were 500 new names to learn, and I was also learning to navigate a new culture. But, I learned little by little how to become a part of the community, and I had a wonderful two years.

Red Wing Public Schools strives to provide an innovating and meaningful educational experience that fosters curiosity; pursues and applies best practices; embraces diversity by respectfully engaging all students, families, and staff; and connects and partners with our community. We serve pre-K through grade 12.

Website: www.rwps.org
Location: 2451 Eagle Ridge Drive, Red Wing, MN, USA
Phone: (651) 385-4500