Amy Jensen is a retired 31-year public school teacher. She taught for six years in Clearwater USD 264 and for 25 years in Maize USD 266 - retiring in 2023. As an educator Amy received the USD 266 Excellence in Education award twice. Recipients of this award are among those chosen to represent USD 266 in the annual Kansas Teacher of the Year competition (KTOY). Throughout her career, Amy has been a strong advocate for public education. Kansas educators elected her to serve on the National Education Association's Board of Directors where she lobbied for Kansas students, educators, and public education on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Amy believes that all kids deserve to have a future-ready education in USD 259 to prepare them for a fulfilling, productive life. She understands it takes the community to provide what our students need to be successful. This fall Amy will be adjunct faculty teaching reading at Butler Community College.

Amy grew up in Salina, Kansas, and proudly attended public school. Her mother was an immigrant to the United States and instilled a love of learning, a sense of humor, and a passion for helping others in her only daughter. Amy's dad, "Big Earl," served in the US Air Force. When he left the Air Force, he purchased a 1947 Ford pickup and drove it for a few years. It then sat in a Kansas wheat field for over 30 years. In the 1990s, Amy and her dad retrieved the pickup, and Earl completely restored it to its original state. In 2020 Amy donated it to The Garage Automotive Museum in Salina. Amy earned a BA in English and Secondary Education from Kansas Wesleyan University and an MA in Teaching from Friends University. Amy was a union member and leader, and she stays active as a retired union member. In her free time she enjoys ushering at Century II, working at shows at Intrust Bank Arena, and greeting visitors at the Oxford Grand Senior Living facility. Amy has lived in District 5 for over 30 years. In District 5 she serves as a Precinct Committee Person for Precinct 503 and as the secretary of the Country Acres Neighborhood Association. Amy has two (spoiled) cats who bring her much joy.

• Board Member - National Education Association Board of Directors, Washington, D.C.

• Board Member - Kansas NEA Board of Directors, Topeka, KS

• Board Member - Kansas Association of Teachers of English

• Board Member - Country Acres Neighborhood Association (secretary), Wichita, KS

• Coordinating Council Member - Kansas NEA-Retired, Topeka, KS

• Chairwoman - South Central Kansas UniServ Advisory Board, Wichita, KS

• President - Maize Education Association, Maize, KS 

• Supervised 5 successful student teachers

• Led as English Department Chairwoman

• Served as lead negotiator on contract bargaining team

• Served on district-level committees: Secondary Core Standards Committee, MTSS Secondary Committee, Building Level Team, Professional Development Curriculum Council, Professional Learning Community (PLC) Leadership Team, and Superintendent's Advisory Council

• Served as district Co-Chair for Professional Development Council

• Mentored students as Scholars' Bowl Coach

• Graduate of Butler Community College Advance Kansas

• Holds current Kansas teaching license in 7-12 English, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and PreK-12 Reading Specialist

• Adjunct Faculty at Butler Community College