Dear ThrivePoint Families and Students,

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Mr. Richard Jensen, a beloved teacher and member of our ThrivePoint family, passed away due to health complications, unexpectedly this morning. As you know, Mr. Jensen was an invaluable part of our school community, deeply committed to both his students and our staff. His positive presence, dedication, and kindness will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

In this difficult time, we want to provide support to our students and families. Our counselors are available for anyone who needs assistance or simply a space to talk. If you or your child would like to speak with a counselor, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Remembering Mr. Rick

What can I say that hasn’t been said? The loss of a true friend and colleague is tough to process! During my time at TPHS, Rick had his hand on my back and all of our backs, supporting us and always willing to help with whatever we needed. He shared wisdom through his sincerity in helping others and often wisdom with humor. I will miss our sharing of Dad jokes and stories. Rick, you are truly a Saint, thank you for the friendship and laughs!

Our loss of Rick Jensen is a tough one for the ThrivePoint family. As his colleagues’ comments illustrate, Rick was ThrivePoint incarnate – a humble ambassador who saw the best in people. He sprinkled his interactions with a delightful sense of humor. I mourn his passing and am eager to participate in any memorials once plans solidify.

Condolences and prayers go out to Rick’s family. He will be deeply missed. I will definitely miss the times Rick would come to our campus and he’d come visit and chat with me in my office.He was a very kind soul and always willing to help in any way he could. I will miss his humor and kind heart.

Mr. Jensen was truly an incredible person, and his kindness and humor touched everyone around him. During my time at the Grovers campus, he made it a point to stop by our classroom every single day before we left. He never failed to make us laugh, and those moments are memories I will always cherish. My last memory with Mr. Jensen was on Friday while I was at Grovers. We walked out together at the end of the day, and I will forever hold our final conversation deeply in my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone during this difficult time. Mr. Jensen will be deeply missed.

Mr. Jensen was a wonderful addition to the Surprise campus; we enjoyed seeing his smiling face and hearing his jokes every Thursday and Friday. We had many students who raved about the individualized help and attention they received from him, and I know they will miss him greatly–as we all will. Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family during this difficult time!

Mr. Jensen was a patient man with everything I asked him to help with. And any questions or problems I had were answered (and sometimes done) for me. I will dearly miss the conversations we shared and his humor and wit. Thank you Mr. Jensen for your time and your work. My condolences go to Mr. Jensen’s family.

I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of our dear friend and colleague. Although I may not have known Mr. Jensen as well as others, he still made a huge impact on my life at work. Mr. Jensen was not only a dedicated and hardworking member of our team, but also someone who brought kindness, laughter, and a sense of warmth to every room. His presence will be sorely missed, and the impact he had on all of us will never be forgotten. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. Rest in peace, Mr. Jensen.

I absolutely loved the time I got to spend with Mr. Jensen when we shared a workspace! We got to know each other personally as well as professionally, and his jokes and political commentary always made my day. I am going to miss him terribly.

Mr. Jensen was indeed a kind soul and he will be missed. What stood out most about Richard for me was his unwavering kindness and attentiveness. He never hesitated to stop what he was doing to greet you with a warm smile or lend an ear. Whether it was a student struggling with a problem or a colleague or staff that needed his assistance….He helped me out with grading a lot of student assignments. I believe that his patience in teaching was a reflection of his deep commitment to helping others succeed. Rest in Peace, Richard and my condolences to his family.

I’ve known Mr. Jensen for over four years, and he was my mentor. He was the reason I graduated high school. I’ll never forget the last day of school when he sat with me for three hours on my math class, explaining everything and guiding me through the material. With his help, I was able to finish my last class. When I first got my job here at ThrivePoint, he came to my campus, and gave me a big hug. He told me how proud he was of me and how happy he was to see me. Mr. Jensen had an incredible ability to put a smile on everyone’s face—not just the people he worked with, but his students as well. This is such a huge loss. I’m praying for his family and his friends, and I hope he rests in peace.

ThrivePoint High School Counselors:

Curtis Gardner: curtis.gardner@thrivepointhighschool.com
Gavin Green: gavin.green@thrivepointhighschool.com

In addition to the support available through ThrivePoint, we encourage anyone who is struggling with grief or emotional distress to seek further help. If you or your child needs someone to talk to, below are some resources available:

Crisis Response Network: (800) 631-1314
The Grief Resource Center (Phoenix): (480) 951-0304
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (available 24/7): 988
Teen Lifeline (Call 24/7/365): (602) 248-8336 (TEEN)
– Text weekdays 12-9 p.m. and weekends 3-9 p.m.
– Teen Peer Counseling 3-9 p.m. daily

As always, please reach out if you need any support or have questions. We will continue to keep Mr. Jensen’s family, friends, and all those who were touched by him in our thoughts.

With deepest sympathy,

Angela Hollingsworth
Director of Schools
ThrivePoint High School

In Loving Memory of Mr. Richard Jensen

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