Humphrey has many subtle ways to show TJ how much she cares.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Humphrey
Jenni Humphrey spends her time at TJ working hard, but she also spends her time supporting others here at TJ. She has been working at Thomas Jefferson High School since 2005, when she started as the Athletic Secretary. She later progressed to the principal’s secretary in 2007, and coached girls’ basketball for TJ and South from 2006-2009. Since 2008, Humphrey is the Spartan Attendance Secretary, gives out bus passes, and takes students pictures for their id badges.
Humphrey was born in Sterling Colorado in 1975, and was raised in Loveland. She went to Mary Blair Elementary School, and spent her Junior High days at Conrad Ball where she found her passion for basketball and made varsity her first year of Junior High. From that point forward, it became a big part of her life. In 1993, she moved on to Kansas Wesleyan College where she played college basketball. “Basketball was really tough physically and emotionally. You don’t have a life anymore; it is all about books, weights, and basketball practice,” said Humphrey. College basketball is an extreme sport and Humphrey played it well with a height of 6 ft 2 inches and was a great post player; she was unstoppable.
“Basketball wasn’t just a sport to me, it taught me about hard work, dedication and determination which really helps you in life,” said Humphrey. As her college days went by and she graduated, she said she would have liked to pursue her basketball career, but in the early 1990s, there wasn’t a WNBA, (Woman’s National Basketball Association); if there was a WNBA at the time Humphrey says she could have been a basketball star. “I would have been focused more and worked harder to try and pursue that dream,” said Humphrey.
When she was finally done with college and it was time to move on, Humphrey pursued basketball in a different way; since she couldn’t be a player she coached girls’ basketball from 2006-2009 here at TJ and South. “I enjoyed coaching, but it just wasn’t for me; it is very overwhelming,” stated Humphrey. As she reflected on her coaching, she remembered the things that she learned from her coach in college. “Embrace your coaches because they make a big difference. My coach wasn’t just a coach, he was a protector. He taught me about life,” added Humphrey. She further said that her coach was more of a father figure in her life, especially during that big college transition.
Humphrey has nothing but good things to say about TJ and the environment that surrounds the Spartans. “I like that TJ’s smaller and the students seem to unite together. Plus I love how it’s really diverse,” stated Humphrey. Compared to her junior high, where it was about the same size but not as diverse, it didn’t have many different cultures or backgrounds. That’s one reason she says she chose to work here at TJ.
Now, you can find Humphrey in the main office helping with students and staff on a daily basis. “I enjoy my job. I get to work with students and be able to be here and available for them whenever they need me,” said Humphrey, who spends a lot of time taking phone calls and making sure students’ attendance is right and up to date.
That’s not all she does; she also spends a lot of her time building relationships with the students. “She is a very caring person. She’s been a mentor and kind of like a big sister to me. Whenever I have a problem I go to her, because I know she will be there to listen whenever I need her,” said Senior Shauna Pierre-Louis. There rarely is a moment when walking by her desk that there isn’t a student around her. “She still has a youthful vibe about her, so that’s why a lot of teens get along with her, because she is easy to connect with,” added Pierre-Louis.
When Humphrey isn’t at her desk taking calls or building memorable bonds with students, she can be found on the baseball field helping her husband Tory Humphrey, who has been the TJ Boys’ Baseball Team Coach for ten years now. That’s also a big part of her life at TJ: she is at every game cheering them on and hoping they win state this year. She gives them her full support.
Humphrey, also known as the attendance woman, does a lot more than just fix attendance mistakes, send out bus cards, and take pictures for student’s ids; she hopes she is making a difference by taking time to build relationships with teens and cheering on the Spartan community.
