Many colleagues, students, former students, and more, all attended Susan Klein's (right) retirement tea to celebrate a long and successful career

By Tommy Osborne

Susan Klein

Beloved music teacher retires after 36 years

Jun 27, 2024 | 1:59 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – After 36 years teaching at D.P. Todd Secondary School, well-known and beloved teacher Susan Klein is calling it a career. To celebrate everything she’s done for the school and community, D.P. Todd hosted a retirement tea and final concert on June 25, where many of Klein’s current and former students, as well as colleagues and many others, came to celebrate.

“It’s really special. And I love that people are seeing connections in the whole community. They’re coming together and they see each other. They haven’t seen each other for years,” Klein said, on reuniting with old students and seeing others meet again.

Klein has left quite an impact on many of her students, as former student Andrea Brown, who graduated high school 24 years ago, says she takes inspiration from Klein’s teaching style and kindness to this day.

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“She really instilled in me how to connect with students because I’m a teacher myself, and how important that is for them to be heard. Because she really heard us when we had conversations with her,” Brown said.

“Susan is just the most incredible human. She truly has no idea the kind of impact that she leaves on her students,” Brown continued.

Cole Wankling, another of her students who graduated three years ago, says Klein’s classes, alongside her love and passion for music, instilled that same love of music in him, and he continues to play a wide variety of instruments today.

“When you have a good, really positive experience like that, and especially when you’re growing up, that definitely makes it (music) easier to enjoy throughout the rest of your life,” Wankling said.

“She was always there. She always pushed you to do your best. It was really nice,” he continued.

As for current students, they’re certainly sad to see her go, but happy that they got to be a part of her band.

“She’s the nicest woman I’ve ever met. She’s super sweet, and she’s taught me everything I know. We’ve gone on several school trips with her, and I couldn’t thank her more,” said grade 11 student Nico Uy.

As for Klein herself, she says she thinks of her students all the time, and says they’re the reason she’s been teaching for so long.

“They’ve made such a difference in my life. They’ve taught me probably just as much, if not more, than I’ve taught them. And to see them here, they bring their kids and they’re sharing time, and they get to hear some of the students that are graduating now. So how cool is this? To have a community that brings everybody together,” Klein said.

She added working alongside so many other wonderful teachers at D.P. Todd was also a privilege.

“You live your day with integrity and you just show yourself, and that’s what all our teachers do. They are themselves for their classes, and they bring themselves and their passion to their students,” she said.

While Klein won’t be teaching anymore, the impact she’s left on her students will certainly continue to be felt.

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