Scott Jensen: The substitute teacher who goes above and beyond
The big Jensen ( Wyett Pinney/ The Puma Prensa)
William Winkelman, web editor
Every student has had a substitute teacher at some point in their lives, and every substitute is always different. Some sit indifferently at the teacher's desk, just saying to check Google Classroom, and don't do anything. Instead, substitute teacher, Scott Jensen, is quite the opposite, helping many students, even while their teacher is out.
Jensen started out not even knowing he wanted to be a substitute teacher or teacher at all, but he did have experiences that would contribute towards him becoming one. He had always found interest in helping people, teaching people hockey and diving in high school. After graduating, he ended up working on Wall Street as an investment banking analyst for PaineWebber, then on the Pacific Stock Exchange, before finally going to an analyst and trader for hedge funds. He worked there for a long while getting his finances and money together, until the connection of just working for the money wasn't right, expanding out into the “Bridge the Gap” program in Marin County, working his way through different schools and places following the same students. All of this work so far through volunteering programs and that he “felt joy when others showed what they had learned.”
After volunteering for a while he wanted to learn more about becoming a teacher full time, eventually making it to Dominican University in 2014, getting his teaching credentials and most of his masters degree.
Once he got his degree he became a math teacher at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Art. This entrance was rocky to say the least, with no other teachers in the field to assist, three different grade levels, and getting the job only two days before the school year started. He was “dropped into a volcano with no chance to feel sane," feeling the same way he did when he worked investment banking, overworked and stressed. Eventually he left after that year, but his career in teaching didn't end there.
He got offered as a long term sub at the Santa Rosa French-American Charter School teaching math, this time only to one grade level, with other teachers to assist in his teaching experience. He didn't know any French but knew math and did everything in his power to teach these students. He helped another teacher during Covid learn how to teach and even taught his students math during Covid, something his son wasn't getting from his teachers, showing a huge difference in effort from different teachers. Using programs like “teacherspayteachers” he was able to get through the year easier, “playing from the end of the field rather than the 50 yard line” he states.
Through Covid and other substituting he was always trying to give his students that aha moment and encouraging them to find it. He helps students work their hardest no matter what, and finds ways to teach them anything during hard times. He reached out to students, having conversations with them instead of just teaching.
He found being a substitute teacher was better than a normal teacher for him as he got to help students and get to meet more students of more backgrounds. With this in mind he substitutes under two main philosophies, stating “I know my job is to get them back to their teacher, and hopefully learn too, it isn't to be a new authority,” and that even though he does not “know anything about this child so I'm going to give them everything I got.” He works to teach students one thing a day, even if that's just to put their phone away for a little bit, although his main goal as stated is just to get students back to where their teacher left them off. He also does it because helping students at all different ages is more fun in his opinion than being tied down to one class.
During recent events with schools being closed, it hasn't affected him directly, but the community around him. On Friday, March 14, back when many teachers and students protested down at the District Office, one teacher told him “I hope you're busy Scott,” hoping he doesn't work on that day, as many people wanted him to be a part of their protest in the school district. This shows the true connection between the teachers and Jensen; they all appreciate and find a community in each other.
It's sad to him that we don't know where the French programs in the District will be, and that Slater will close. These two schools are close to home for him, but also has ties to both schools, hoping they dont close or get moved. This is because if they move then he may not be able to sub for them if they are all the way across town. He says the disconnect that could build between students and teachers isn't worth the chaos and change the district is causing, also showing concern that “admins may not come back and that is where my heart goes out, we don't need more chaos.”
He also is affected by events in our school, stating Amy Wiese’s firing to be like “firing Michael Jordan three years into his career because you think it will be better,” or for non sports fans, a huge blunder. He sees “connection over content,” something the District doesn’t see in the teachers, students, and staff, observing this first hand, being in the offices and the classrooms. Having project based learning in Elsie Allen, but not knowing which teachers are going to take it, and needing so much done by August, overall being a lot for teachers and staff to put into action.
Overall this teacher, substitute, and everything in between has been there for everyone, helping when teachers are out and getting students on track. Jensen is a wonderful teacher and an amazing person we all look forward to seeing in our classes when our teacher isn't here.