Welcome to Ridgewood’s 3rd grade classroom.
I am Wayne Jensen, and this is my 14th year as a teacher at Ridgewood, and my 26th year when you add in my time as a parent. I have taught grades 3, 4, 3/4 splits, Odyssey, 5th and A.C.E. classrooms in my career. My wife and I have been married for 33 years, and we have three children between the ages of 23 and 33. Before joining Ridgewood, I served as the National Investigations Director for Nordstrom, and prior to that, I was a member of the United States Army.
I've lived in various places across the country and for over the last 20+ years here in Fairwood.
My academic journey took me to the University of Portland (Go Pilots!) and Lesley University.
As a lifelong supporter, I root for the Cincinnati Reds & New York Giants. Every World Cup, I cheer for the German National Soccer Team, and annually, I support Bayern Munich, along with a smaller club in Middlesbrough, England.
Together with my family, we've traveled to a diverse range of countries from Iceland to South Africa, including Canada, Mexico, Denmark, Germany, France, England, Sweden, Israel, Colombia, and more. We've explored all but seven states in the U.S., and we're determined to visit West Virginia, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Kentucky, Alabama, and Mississippi. We're excited about future travels this coming summer and post-retirement travel when the current decade draws to a close.
My grandparents played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today, providing stability and guidance when needed. They instilled in me a strong ethic of doing what's right and serving others in need. My grandfather would often say, "If doing the right thing was easy, everyone would do it. It ain't, and they don't." He hoped I would always choose to do the right thing, no matter how difficult. I am proud that my family, including my grown daughters, continue to live by that principle.
Together, we have supported numerous organizations, including the Special Olympics, Make-A-Wish, Girl Scouts, NW Harvest, and various youth sports groups. We've participated in committee boards, community forums, and have either organized or aided others in similar endeavors. My involvement with Kent School committees is extensive, and I've received unexpected recognitions. As a City of Kent Parks commissioner and a member of the King County Parks Levy Funds committee, I've contributed to youth soccer at both state and local levels, successfully raising $1.6 million for the development of Petrovitsky Park's soccer fields, as well as securing funding for fields in Kent, Covington, and Maple Valley.
My educational philosophy centers on making each classroom day the best I can deliver. I believe in continuous improvement; not just hoping for it, because hope alone is not a strategy.
To truly impact a student's academic journey, I must first understand my own teaching perspective. Each day begins and ends with self-reflection on my teaching approach, considering any biases towards the materials, the students, or myself as an educator. I conclude each day with a practice taught to me by Dr. Tom Greene, where I mentally review my class roster, take notes of my observations, and ensure that those who may need extra attention are positively engaged the following day, reinforcing their value and my appreciation for them being in class.
Transforming students from doubters into believers, from thinking something is impossible to knowing it's possible, is what should drive every educator. I believe in engaging students and guiding them from their starting point to places they never imagined they could reach.
With this in mind, it's crucial for students to take control of their learning journey and develop metacognitive skills.
Practice evolves into habit, and habit translates into results. When students are provided with chances to comprehend their learning process, to become metacognitive, they tend to succeed. For successful individuals, failure does not exist; they view "failure" merely as a temporary obstacle. “Can’t” should always be an “I can’t yet” until it becomes an “I can.”
My ultimate aim is to conclude my second career knowing that I have fulfilled my grandparents' aspirations and that a part of their legacy has been imparted to the students I educate and the families I assist.
The true reward for a well-executed job is the act of doing it. Therefore, I teach.
Reflection Question: Why does the significance of a person's influence and financial controls over a classroom and the students it supports, grow the greater their distance is from the classroom, compared to those who interact with the student daily?
