Teacher Feature: Donna Klassen — Oh, the Places She’ll Go
May 13, 2026 News Story, School Activity
Truffula trees, Whos, and Horton the Elephant were on stage at École Riverview School last week, but behind the bright costumes and joyful songs of Seussical the Musical was something even more remarkable: the final curtain call of a beloved music teacher whose impact has echoed through Winnipeg School Division classrooms for nearly four decades.
After 37 years as an elementary music specialist with Winnipeg School Division—all of them spent at École Riverview School, alongside years at Margaret Scott School, Wolseley School, and Queenston School—Donna Klassen is leaving behind a musical and choral legacy when she retires this June.
And in true Seussian fashion, she decided not to quietly slip away. Instead, she is going out with a bang, full of energy.
A Dream Takes the Stage
“As I began preparing for retirement, our principal Cinzia Caputo asked if there was something I had always wanted to do as a music teacher,” Klassen recalled. “I shared that mounting a musical had long been a dream of mine, and within moments, that idea was set in motion. In truth, I am not sure I would have had the courage if I’d had time to think it through!”
That leap of faith became Seussical the Musical, a massive undertaking involving 87 students in Grades 3 to 6, three backstage crew members and 24 students in the prop club. Auditions began in the fall. Rehearsals filled lunch hours and spare moments over the winter months. Teachers, support staff, and families pitched in wherever they could as the 2-night performance dates drew closer.
And through all the overwhelming moving pieces of musical theatre, Klassen created exactly what she has spent her career building: joy, belonging, and community through music.
“The students came to every rehearsal filled with anticipation, energy and a genuine passion for the project,” she said. “They reminded me of the true value of belonging and community.”
Music Woven Through a Lifetime
That sense of connection has always been at the heart of Klassen’s teaching philosophy.
“Music has been woven into my life from the very beginning,” she said.
Raised in a home where the arts were deeply valued, Klassen grew up singing constantly and studying piano and bandura, a traditional Ukrainian folk instrument. She later attended the University of Manitoba, majoring in harp while singing with the University of Manitoba Singers—an experience she says shaped her lifelong belief in “the power of ensemble, mentorship, and shared artistic experience.”
Even as a child, she knew she wanted to become a music teacher. And for generations of Riverview students, she became much more than that.
Teaching Children to Find Their Voice
Over nearly four decades, Klassen built a vibrant music program rooted in singing and collaboration. Students learned song and musicianship, of course, but they also learned confidence. They learned how to stand tall in front of an audience. They learned how to listen to one another. They learned how to use their voices.
“One of the greatest joys of my time as a music educator has been the relationships built with students as we journeyed together toward each performance,” Klassen said. “To witness children radiate joy and excitement as they create something beautiful and express their authentic selves is an extraordinary privilege.”
Her influence stretched far beyond school concerts and classrooms.
Klassen has helped establish a strong choral tradition in the neighbourhoods she taught, laying the foundation for generations of children to discover the power of singing together. Many current parents at Riverview had Klassen as their own music teacher, and a generation later, she is now instructing their children. Teaching colleagues describe her as endlessly energetic and an outstanding music educator—in all the classic ways.
Building Belonging Through the Arts
Her energy and spirit were felt throughout the school halls during preparations for Seussical.
From lunchtime rehearsals to one-on-one coaching sessions and the prop club's bustling creativity, the production became a school-wide labour of love.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside teachers Matthew Jones and Lianne Kondziela on this project,” Klassen said. “From the moment the school project was announced, they jumped in wholeheartedly, and this production simply would not have been possible without their dedication and contributions.”
The musical also became a powerful learning experience for students.
Throughout rehearsals, Klassen watched children take creative risks, support one another, and grow in confidence. She saw nervous performers find courage and quiet students discover a place to belong.
“I witnessed their perseverance, their creativity, and the way they lifted one another up with kindness and encouragement,” she said.
One Final Curtain Call
A belief in the importance of arts education has guided Klassen throughout her career.
“The performing arts play a powerful role in supporting students’ social and emotional growth,” she explained. “In the arts, students don’t just learn—they belong.”
And long after the final bows of Seussical the Musical, Donna Klassen’s legacy will ring through the gymnasiums, classrooms, and concert spaces of École Riverview School.
In every child brave enough to sing out. In every student who found confidence in choir. In every joyful voice raised together.