The venerated Ms. Heidi Hendrix-Jonson, or HJ, could be found in the upstairs D wing, teaching social studies on B days. Except for this year, the once welcoming and warming corner of the D wing is no longer occupied by Ms. HJ, as she is currently working at Mountain Range High School in Westminister.
Last year, Ms. HJ worked part-time so she could dedicate her off days to completing college coursework. She has successfully earned her master’s degree in Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in education, which she plans to apply to help Spanish-speaking students. Now, with her educational goals achieved, she has transitioned back to working full-time.
However, Ms, HJ is taking on a new role as a dean this year. She puts in tireless efforts to keep students on track while showing genuine care for their well-being.
“I really like what I’m doing, [but also] it’s a hard job,” said Ms. HJ, “It’s really hard to see the same kids make the same mistakes over and over again, but then there’s the kids who make a mistake and don’t make those same dumb mistakes again.”
Despite the challenges of her new position, Ms. HJ approaches her work with optimism and perseverance. Mountain Range High School is notably more diverse compared to Mead, and Ms. HJ embraces the new experiences this environment has offered her.
“There’s so many different kinds of students who come here, and I think that’s really exciting to be able to speak to [these] kids.”
While transitioning to a much larger school can be intimidating, the kindness and support of the Mountain Range staff have eased the process for her.
“[There’s been] so much kindness and support from [Admin],” She said.
Teachers have been patient, reintroducing themselves whenever Ms. HJ forgets their names or what they teach. The staff regularly reminds her of the great work she’s doing, offering words of encouragement that lift her spirits.
“I can’t even tell you the number of times people have just said nice things,” she said.
Regardless of Ms. HJ’s role as a dean, she still values building relationships with students. Ms. HJ aspires to positively impact their well-being. Occasionally, she finds herself missing the classroom and enjoys chatting with students about what they’re learning in social studies.
Though Ms. HJ misses her students and friends at Mead High School, she is also very content with her decision to take on this new role.
Ms. HJ inspires anyone to follow their passions, “I think you have to just go for it. Whatever your next step is, if you’re unhappy with your job, try something new. If you’re happy with your job but you know you want to push yourself harder, try something new.”
We wish Ms. HJ the best of luck and happiness in her future endeavors.
Kaylina • Dec 10, 2024 at 11:57 am
It’s nice to know where she went! Glad she’s doing well as a dean.