New beginnings and

New beginnings and sad goodbyes

Former anatomy teacher takes on new role as district CDC representative

Former science teacher Chris Jenson performs a dance during a school assembly in 2018. Photo courtesy of Leah Goldstein. As 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.”

For senior Alex Swanson, Jenson was impactful for her during school, and she said she appreciated his words of wisdom.

“He’s probably my favorite teacher of all time,” Swanson said. “I don’t know of a better teacher besides him. I feel like a lot of kids who have had him will say that he’s probably one of the best teachers that Blue Valley Southwest has ever had.”

Swanson said she believes his teaching methods strive for growth rather than perfection. Many of his projects encourage students to use critical thinking skills and creativity rather than memorization.Swanson said she appreciated this teaching style and chose to continue working with Jenson on independent studies for years after she took his class.

“We’re very, very close. I’m doing an independent study with him right now,” Swanson said. “We’re still in contact, even though he doesn’t actually teach at the school anymore … The project is about looking at successful countries and how they’ve responded to COVID versus countries who weren’t successful; comparing them and asking the question between what was the difference between the countries and their performance?”

This independent study, among others, has been a chance for Jenson and Swanson to work together. Swanson said she views Jenson as a mentor and role model. Junior Veronica Fuendling is another student who admires how Jenson cares about each one of his students.

“Whenever he would grade something on canvas, he would always leave like a positive and encouraging note,” Fuendling said. “He always checked up on his students to just see how they were doing. Especially at the beginning of the pandemic, because it was so hard for a lot of the students. He was one of the only teachers who actually checked in on me and I appreciated it so much.”

As a teacher, Jenson saw a need to check up on his students through tough times. The prevalence of the importance of mental health in his classroom was something that Fuendling said made him differ from other teachers. Fuendling said she fondly remembers Jenson sharing his med school trials and tribulations. By relating to and telling his students about his own failures and challenges, Jenson attempted to ease stress in his classroom.

“My favorite characteristic of his will probably always be that he always told us that we don’t have to be perfect; we don’t have to be these perfect human beings,” Fuendling said.“He said errors are going to happen, mistakes are going to happen. And that honestly helped me so much through school and with grades.”

While anatomy is often considered a complex, difficult subject, Swanson said Jenson had a way of making it seem less intimidating.

“He has this way of taking super complex concepts and then making them comprehendible for everyone,” Swanson said. “I was a sophomore in his class when I took anatomy and I felt like I was understanding these super complex topics that maybe were really hard. He’s really good at just kind of dumbing it down for us.”

Swanson is one of many students who felt that Jenson really took the time to make sure that his students were grasping the material. Jenson described his students as his “kids” and emphasized how much he enjoys hearing from prior students and seeing how they have progressed.

“I think one of the coolest parts about being a teacher is you get to watch your former students develop over decades,” Senior Emilyn Ruhnke dissects a sheep brain with the help of science teacher Chris Jenson photo courtesy of Morgan Polowniak

Jenson said. “And it’s really nice when they check in with you and you get updates. It’s just exciting to hear how their life is going.”

From leaving his position as an emergency medicine physician of 13 years to going back to school to receive a degree in education, Jenson has conquered the educational and medical fields. His love for teaching and his passion for medicine led him to a job that made him happy for many years. As he transitions to a new position, it is clear that he has left an impression and mark at Southwest. “He definitely had a positive impact on our students and staff at Southwest,” Fuendling said. “I just miss going into this room seventh-hour first semester and first hour second semester, and just getting to either start or end my day with him.”

Not only has Jenson left a mark on the students, but the students have positively affected Jenson’s life. However, when the opportunity to make a difference for those very students’ school experiences at the district level arose, it was a chance he felt called to take.

“I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with students. I think they challenged me as a person in a good way, pushing me to consider ideas from different viewpoints and try to remain creative,” Jenson said. “I also just think young people have new and exciting thoughts about the world and I enjoy hearing them. So it’s just kind of added some energy to my life.”

| elliephillips