Marianne Kjos

I was reminiscing today, on MLK day, remembering a paper I submitted on Dr. Martin Luther King, and his dream/message to Mrs. Kjos, in my junior yr of high school, 1993. I remember having a great discussion that resulted in an epiphany. As a kid, I took Dr. King as a champion for African American rights, but at that moment, after a discussion with Mrs. Kjos, I realized his message was/is for all people.

I decided to google her name and am saddened to learn of her passing. My...

Mrs. Kjos was my favorite teacher at Sunset. She was one of the most intelligent, gentle and classy women I have ever met. She encouraged me to write about topics dearest to me, and I'll never forget her. I remember walking with her in the hallway once, and we overheard two girls using very offensive language. In disgust, Mrs. Kjos turned to me, put one hand over her pearl necklace, and said "Oh, and I'm wearing my pearls!" What a lady! To this day, I still say that when I hear something...

Mrs. Kjos was a brilliant teacher and an amazing person. I was fortunate to have been her student in the 1998/99 school year for AP Language & Composition. It saddens me to learn only now of her passing, but I pray that her soul is at peace in heaven and that her positive influence on all of us that she touched continues to be felt as we pay forward the many blessings she shared with us. She was extremely intelligent, and a very effective communicator. More importantly, she was an educator...

A colleague of mine said she was having dinner tonight with her high school English teacher who had such a positive influence on her. I excitedly told her I had a very similar experience which prompted me to search for Mrs Kjos today. To my dismay I missed reconnecting with her by almost 5 years. With a heavy heart, I felt compelled to write something today because I surely never told her what a cool lady I thought she was and how she fostered a love for writing and literature in me. Mrs...

Mrs. Kjos is the reason I am an English teacher today. In fact, she is the reason I graduated from Miami Sunset High School. I suffered from severe asthma and missed so many weeks of school, that I was about to drop out and get my GED. I knew I would never be able to make-up all the work and keep up with my current assignments. Mrs. Kjos personally helped me make arrangements with my other teachers so I could make up the work and graduate with my class. May God rest her soul.

She was my favorite teacher - I took Creative writing with her at Sunset in 1985. I was a 'difficult' child in high school, and she was the only teacher to see through my issues and get to my heart. I will always love her and keep her alive in my heart. May you be somewhere warm and beautiful, Marianne.

This woman personified brilliance and class. I took AP English with her at Sunset and she was a life changer.

I was online today looking for Mrs. Kjos' information so that I could write and tell her how her encouragement affected me and how I still value her teaching today as it I did 12 years ago. She was the only teacher who made me feel as if I could do something with myself. If education were a religion, she would be a saint. I know it's cliche but I would not be doing what I'm doing today if it wasn't for her.

My thoughts are with the Kjos family. To you, I say that she has helped so...

I have been an English teacher for 14 years. I was fortunate enough to take AP training seminars with Marianne twice. I drove her a little crazy with my perfectionism, but she loved me; she told me that she expected I would keep in touch with her to update her on my progress. Alas, I did write to her once and did not hear back --most probably because she was ill. I'm so grateful to have been able to learn from her. I have learned more from her than any English professor I took in college or...