Sydney Jensen is a passionate educator in Lincoln, Nebraska who enjoys sharing her journey as a teacher with both current and future educators through presenting professional development, writing op-eds, and serving her professional community as a lead learner. In addition to teaching high school English courses, Sydney is an adjunct professor at Doane University teaching a course focused on helping educators learn trauma-informed and trauma-responsive instructional practices.
A Georgia native, Jensen is a ninth-grade English teacher at Lincoln High School in the epicenter of America's heartland: Lincoln, Nebraska. Lincoln is one of the nation's top cities for refugee resettlement, and students at Lincoln High speak more than 30 languages. Jensen also serves as an instructional coordinator working with new and veteran teachers to provide instructional support and mentorship. In recognition of her work in the classroom and the school community, Jensen is the 2019 Nebraska Teacher of the Year.
When she is not teaching, she is advocating to policy leaders about the importance of supporting teacher wellness. In 2019, Sydney gave an official TED talk on the impact of secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue on teachers who work with students experiencing trauma. Her talk has received over 2.6 million views to date.
Jensen earned her BsED in English Education from the University of Georgia in 2013, and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Doane University in 2020.