Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010 • Jud Jensen, Lassen County Superintendent of Schools retires

Publisher’s note: This story originally appeared in the Tuesday, Dec. 14 edition of the Lassen County Times.

Lassen County Superintendent of Schools Jud Jensen began his career in education after he was hired as an instructional aide at Shaffer School. Now, after more 30 years in education, he will retire at the end of this month.

A fifth-generation resident, Jensen attended Susanville schools, graduated from Lassen High School and spent his entire career in Lassen County, 30 of those years were with the Susanville School District.

“I really enjoyed the relationships that you develop with students, teachers and parents as both a teacher and a site administrator,” Jensen said regarding some of the highlights of his career.

However, he said the most rewarding thing is running into a former student.

“And they come up and tell you that you had a positive impact in their life,” Jensen said.

Jensen was hired as the temporary instructional aide at Shaffer after being laid off for the season while working as a surveyor with the United States Forest Service.

“And I fell in love with it,” Jensen said of how he became interested in education.

He graduated from California State University, Chico in 1972, moved back to Susanville and started working at Diamond View School in 1973 where he stayed for one year before taking over as site administrator at Washington School which operated where Credence High School was located on Cottage Street.

“And that’s how I got into school administration,” Jensen said.

He said, “My first administrative job I was pretty young, real young and pretty inexperienced, but I really enjoyed it and it was a good way to get started.”

Jensen went back to Chico State where he earned a master’s degree and administrative credential.

Through the years Jensen worked as teacher, vice principal and principal in the Susanville School District before becoming Lassen County Office of Education’s assistant superintendent and was then appointed  superintendent in 2008 when Bob Owens retired.

As part of his career highlights Jensen said, “Obviously becoming county superintendent was very rewarding and satisfying. Not easy, but really a good job,” he said.

One of the biggest challenges Jensen has worked with as superintendent was the budget.

“The biggest challenge for all of the schools and the county office has been the fiscal crisis the state is in,” Jensen said.

LCOE provides business services, fiscal oversight, curriculum and instructional support, technological services psychologists, special education services and speech therapists.

According to Jensen, LCOE lost about 25 percent of its funding.

“Some of the real quality programs that we did in the past for example the outdoor ed program and some of the curriculum events, we’ve had to curtail because of the lack of funding,” he said.

Other programs that have been cut are the Geography Bowl and Academic Olympics, but Jensen said programs that were cut only involved a small number of students.

“It’s been a time when you’re not doing innovative and creative kinds of things … you’re just trying to keep the ship afloat, which is a huge challenge,” he said.

As superintendent during a budget crisis, Jensen has worked closely with superintendents and boards, made suggestions, helped with budget projections and kept districts accountable.

Despite the budget challenges, Jensen said of the LCOE, “We continue to operate in the black, and we’ve tried to anticipate revenue shortfalls and make staffing adjustments and cuts ahead of the curve. I think that since we do have fiscal oversight over all the districts we have to start with having our own financial house in order.”

Layoffs have been minimal as Jensen said most positions that have been lost have been through attrition.

Even though he is retiring, there are things Jensen said he hopes to see happen such as restarting the outdoor education camp.

Another is retaining qualified teachers and administrators and other key personnel. Ever since he became superintendent, Jensen said LCOE has been trying to hire an occupational therapist and physical therapist.

Due to the isolation and location of Lassen County, Jensen said it is difficult to attract and retain positions.

He also said there has to be some kind of modification to tenure laws in California because good teachers are not paid enough but there has to be away to get rid of bad or marginal.

“The most important thing that happens in education happens in the classroom between the teacher and the students. That’s what it’s all about and my philosophy of administration has always been that we’re here to facilitate that. That’s where the magic is,” he said.

During these tough economic times, Jensen said LCOE is just trying to provide services that make a difference to teachers such as Lit Jam started in 2009 and patterned after the Tehama County Litfest.

Video streaming was also provided for all of the Lassen County schools, where teachers can go online and access video clips that coincide with their lessons.

Jensen also kept busy by pastoring Susanville Christian Fellowship, he has also retired from that position. During his career, Jensen and his wife took a year off to attend seminary at Multnomah Bible College in Oregon.

In January, assistant superintendent Rich DuVarney will be taking over as superintendent. He ran unopposed in the November election.

Jensen said of the change, “I have worked closely with Rich for a long time, and I have certainly kept him in the loop on all the important decisions and we work very well together. He’s going to do a great job.”

Through the transition process, Jensen said he will be helping out part-time until the assistant superintendent position is filled  and will probably work until the end of the fiscal year.

When he retires Jensen said he and his wife are looking at relocating to the Chico area where two of his three children live with his grandchildren and possibly come back to Lassen County in the summer where his family also owns a ranch.

Jud Jensen’s timeline of career
•1973: Starts working at Diamond View School after graduating from college and earning credential.
•1974: Becomes site administrator for Washington School.
•Vice principal of Diamond View School and then principal in 1985.
•1989-1990: Jensen and his wife take a year off to attend seminary at Multnomah Bible college.
•1990-1995: Comes back to Susanville and works as a teacher.
•Becomes principal of Meadow View School.
•2003: Assistant superintendent of county schools.
• 2008: Appointed superintendent of county schools.