Randy Jensen
Conference Liaison
William Thomas Middle School
2005
National Middle School Principal of the Year
2004
Outstanding Secondary School Principal-Middle Level
Mr. Randy Jensen, principal at William Thomas Middle School in American Falls, was selected by the Idaho Association of Secondary School Principals to be the 2004 Outstanding Secondary School Principal-Middle Level. Randy will now represent middle level principals in the state at the national leadership program in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2004.
Mr. Jensen received his B.A. and M.A. from Idaho State University and he has been at WTMS since 1985. He was a teacher from 1985-88 and he has been the principal here since 1989. He is a past President for the Idaho Middle Level Association, and is currently a board member for the National Middle School Association. He has been a board member for NMSA for 5 years. He is the Idaho Middle Level Liaison with the NASSP. Randy is an excellent presenter and has been the keynote speaker for middle level conferences in Hawaii and California as well as presenting at the state and national levels many times.
Dr. Ronald Bolinger, Superintendent of the American Falls School District wrote ...”Our middle school is an inviting environment for students to learn and teachers to teach. Mr. Jensen works very hard with his staff to make sure that each student feels welcome and included...Mr. Jensen is an excellent spokesperson for the middle school to the parents and patrons of the district. He is able to simply explain new programs and clarify issues of concern and interest to the public...Mr. Jensen is an innovative leader, well respected by the teachers and parents of the community...”
He is well loved by his faculty and student body. 6th grade social studies teacher, Margaret Stocking, feels, “Mr. Jensen teaches all of the 6th grade students together for a period each week so we can have a 6th grade team planning period. He does the same for each of the other grades. I really appreciate his willingness to do this, and I think that besides helping us out he enjoys the opportunity to spend time with the students!”
Mrs. Kim West, 7th grade language arts teacher, states, “Randy is very supportive of everything I want to do and truly cares about the students and teachers here. I don’t know how he gets the things accomplished that he does! He is responsible for many great programs we have at our school that benefit both the students and the teachers. One of the nicest things I have ever received from him is the booklet of student comments he presents us all with during Teacher Appreciation Week. That is what keeps me going and makes me feel like I am making a difference.”
Jordan Bowman, a 6th grade student says, “Mr. Jensen is a very good principal because he is not too mean and he’s not too nice and he’s a person who thinks we should know what is going on in the world. I think that’s great!”
Another 6th grader, Devin Bock, feels, “Mr. Jensen is a very good principal. I think he does a good job of being fair with us and making sure we stuff our heads with learning, but that we have fun on the way.”
Jenney Calixto, 7th grader, tells us, “I think Mr. Jensen is a great principal because he has made us follow rules...but he has good rules!”
7th grader Collin Miller says, “Mr. Jensen has taken me out to lunch, set up the January Skills Exploration program and he listens to kids.”
And Preston Crompton, 7th grader, is happy to say, “Thank you for the 50 AR points program Mr. Jensen!”
Finally, Mrs. Kim Williams, 6th grade teacher, wrote, “Since his tenure as principal began, Mr. Jensen continues to work towards implementing the goals of a middle school, and he never loses sight of his ultimate objective-the success of individual students.”
