GRINNELL, Iowa — The Grinnell School of Music is expecting to open its new school building in August, and a new addition, a teacher workspace, will honor two retired music instructors.
The Claude W. Ahrens Charitable Trust, Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation and the Michael and Susan Witt Foundation came together and gifted $40,000 to create the Roger and Lisa Henderson Teacher Workspace.
"Roger and Lisa are very important teachers of music," said Julie Gosselink, CEO and President of the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. "It just was a perfect fit. It seemed like the right thing to do because so many people know them and love them."
Roger taught music for 38 years in Iowa public schools, and is now on the Board of Directors for Grinnell School of Music. He retired in the spring of 2021 with his wife Lisa, who taught music for 31 years, ending her career at Grinnell College.
"It really tickled us," Lisa said. "My reaction was just, you know, dumbfounded and honored."
"It was a wonderful surprise," Roger added. "The idea that we'll continue on after we're gone is really kind of overwhelming. But it's really awesome."
At the Grinnell School of Music's current space, teachers preparing for their classes often are doing so while another lesson occurs. This new space creates a private room for the instructors.
"It will essentially be where all of our teachers prep for lessons," said Erin Bustin, Grinnell School of Music Executive Director. "[It's] where they get all of the work done that they need to do so they can go in, and be the best, you know, do what they do best, which is teach our students."