Staff Spotlight: Joshua Jorgensen Serving Country and Community
This post is part of the Lynden Schools Staff Spotlight series
If you’re driving around Lynden and see someone rollerblading with odd-looking skates and ski poles, don’t be alarmed. It may just be Isom Elementary’s music teacher Joshua Jorgensen training for a biathlon. It’s all part of his personal growth, a focus he takes into his position at Lynden Schools working with every student at Isom.
The Role
Since 2017 Jorgensen has worked at Isom, serving as the music teacher. His focus is on helping students grow in their love for music while teaching them the basic building blocks like beat, rhythm, melody, culture and creative expression. He also teaches adaptive music to help certain students meet their learning needs by supporting their occupational and physical therapy, speech and language and social-emotional goals through group music therapy sessions.
“I enjoy seeing students grow as musicians throughout their time while in elementary school,” he says. “Then getting to see their continued growth as they go to middle school and high school, if they choose to continue with music. It is mind-blowing to see the growth of some of my students.”
Getting to Know Joshua
When not serving at Isom, Jorgensen is serving his country. He’s in the Washington Army National Guard (WAARNG) and serves as the Battalion Executive Officer for the 156th Information Operations Battalion. He also competes on the WAARNG’s Winter Biathlon Team under the U.S. Military’s Endurance Sports Program, hence the training in town with roller blades and ski poles. “I am toying around with the idea of starting a biathlon program here in Lynden,” Jorgensen says.
Married with three children, Jorgensen spends his free time with his family. “I love to coach their sports teams when the opportunity presents itself,” he says. “Getting to experience my own children and other students in an environment outside the classroom is always a hoot. In my free time, I am a hobby woodworker and loving doing DIY home projects.”
That is, when he isn’t training for a biathlon.
