New librarian, Michelle Jensen, looks forward to a positive year at TJ.
Photo by Ed Gloor
Students visiting the library this year might be surprised to see a new face behind the main desk. The former librarian Sudi Stodola, who has moved on to the Career Education Center, is no longer a part of Thomas Jefferson and in her place the TJ family is privileged with the presence of Michelle Jensen.
Jensen formerly worked at McGlone Elementary School, also a DPS school. “We are delighted that she could join us. She had previously been at an elementary school and when we interviewed her we thought she could adapt to high school. She is becoming a part of the TJ family,” said Principal Sandra Just.
Jensen is new to the TJ family, but she is also new to the Colorado family. Previously she lived in Arizona for 12 years where she was also a librarian. Her job, however, was a bit different there because she worked on the Hopi Native American reservation. Because of the culture, there were certain books that Jensen was not permitted to bring into the school. She also faced separation from the culture because she is not native Hopi. “Isolation, there is little out there, and there are things as a non native that we cannot do, places we can’t go, and ceremonies we can’t see.” Even though Jensen was not included in some of the cultural happenings, she was readily welcomed otherwise. “My favorite part was being so fully accepted into the culture. I had a clan, and a clan name.” Jensen was apart of the Water Clan and was give the name Quamana, which means Water Girl in the native language.
Some people might think it strange that a non-native librarian would want to go and work on a Native American reservation, but to Jensen it was just returning to the familiar. “My parents were traders on the Indian reservation for four years, and I wanted to go back.” Along with returning to the reservation, she also wanted to show the students a life outside of the reservation. “I tried to show kids what it was like to live off the ‘rez.’ I taught 2nd grade and I took the kids to the Phoenix Zoo, and there were a lot of them who hadn’t seen a cow yet.” As much of a shock as that might seem, the reservation is two hours away from any major city. That is one of the major differences that Jensen appreciates about moving here to Denver. “There is a lot to do here, with the arts, sports, and outdoor activities,” she said.
“I moved here because I have lived in all four of the Four Corner States besides Colorado. I love the mountains, and I have some family that live here.” Outside of school Jensen likes to stay active by camping and traveling. Over the summer she visited Maroon Bells, which is about 12 miles southwest of Aspen, Colorado.
Jensen has specific plans for the coming year, including student book clubs every Monday at lunch starting at 11:30. Although Jensen is very friendly, she does have some rules that she will be enforcing: “Bring your ID cards every time you come to the library, and be prepared to pay to print.” If you do these things, life in the library will be an easy one. Be sure to say “Hi” to the new friendly face at TJ, and check out the book club that is now underway.
