22 | feature / the standard / dec. 2020
Ne w begin n in gs a nd s a d goodbyes Former anatomy teacher takes on new role as district CDC representative
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Former science teacher Chris Jenson performs a dance during a school assembly in 2018. Photo courtesy of Leah Goldstein.
s the school ages, there is a continuous revolving door of new teachers and freshmen, accompanied by graduating seniors and teachers retiring or moving to the next phase of their professional career. This transition is often bittersweet for both the person and the people who they leave behind. However, with new changes of settings comes newfound opportunities. Former anatomy teacher Dr. Chris Jenson is now embarking on another journey as CDC Representative of the district. However, he said Southwest will always have a special place in his heart. “I love the opportunities that I had at Southwest,” Jenson said. “The staff and students of Southwest are the most amazing group of people. So, it was hard to walk away from that this year. But, I also saw an opportunity to try and do some good for the district at large.” Jenson’s workload at his new position as a medical adviser for the district is largely consumed by COVID-19 research and analyzing the current trends. With the ever-changing and advancing knowledge of the virus, it is important to stay on top of the most recent science and incorporate this into the district’s plan moving forward. “The goal is to get students in school so they can socialize with each other and enjoy the aspects of life that they deserve to enjoy, while at the same time, being reasonable about limiting the spread of COVID,” Jenson said. “That has kind of created...a very different school year.”