Patrick Jensen happily teachers high school chemistry after a 20 year career in business.

Patrick Jensen happily teachers high school chemistry after a 20 year career in business.

Patrick Jensen, 41, took a 50 percent pay cut to teachchemistry and web development in the Fresno Unified School District.

After working for 20 years as a fiscal analyst, mutual fund accountant and school district business chief, he decided a great career isnt always about money.

In my old job, I felt like I was pushing a lot of paperwork around but not making much of a difference. He said. I wanted to do something more directly connected to kids, have more of an impact on my community.

Last year, Jensen quit his job and enrolled in a teacher intern credential program at Fresno State. After taking an intense summer course, he started at Patino High School, a newly-opened, business-themed school in Fresno. Weekends and nights he takes teacher preparation classes, and works closely with colleagues and mentor teachers.

He had never volunteered in a classroom, and his mastery of chemistry dated from his years as an undergraduate. But overall, his first months in the classroom went very smoothly, thanks to colleagues support. He has no regrets.

The toughest part, he said, was getting used to teenagers. Until he started teaching, most of his experience with kids was from raising his own. Understanding teenagers and keeping them engaged was a little more challenging than he expected.

If youre not used to teenagers, its hard to know how much freedom to give them, where to draw the line, when are you being too strict, he said. You can have a great career and be an expert in something, but you might not know how to teach. You have to have the humility and openness to ask for help.

He encourages other mid-career professionals in science and math to consider teaching if theyre looking for a change, have the support of their families and dont mind a few years of sacrifice in exchange for long-term job stability, summers off and the rewards of educating young people.

When youre teaching, you see these moments of growth with the kids, when they suddenly grasp a concept they previously didnt understand . Those moments make it all worth it, he said. And if it turns out you dont like teaching, you can always go back to that boring office job. Those jobs will always be there.

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A Fresno staffer finds his way from business to high school chemistry teacher - EdSource