Those lessons concerned a few parents of students at South Sevier High School in Monroe, leading to rumors about the teacher's own beliefs.

On Friday, Jensen took the stand during a trial in U.S. District Court to clear things up.

"I am not a witch," she testified as part of her lawsuit accusing Sevier School District officials of firing her because she is a woman and not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

When asked if she ever taught witchcraft in her classes, Jensen - who says she was raised Mormon but has no religion - said, "No."

Her brief time on the stand, following a longer appearance earlier in the trial, capped a week of testimony. Lawyers are slated to give their closing arguments on Monday.

Jensen alleged discrimination after her contract at South Sevier, where she had taught for three years, was not renewed at the end of the 2002-2003 school year. Her legal action seeks back pay and unspecified damages.

District official deny Jensen's allegations, saying she was let go as part of a staff reduction because of falling test scores among students and her teaching of core curriculum.

But the former teacher contends the real reason she was fired was that everyone in the small community knew she was non-Mormon. She notes that Superintendent Brent Thorne mentioned her coffee run to a bakery during a training seminar, according to the minutes of a Sevier District Board meeting in February 2003, when members voted to uphold the recommendation for her layoff.

The minutes also said, immediately after Thorne's comments, that Jensen believes in witchcraft and added, "Halloween is her favorite holiday and she doesn't hide the fact she prefers the dark side." Those portions were later deleted.

Thorne on Friday reiterated his contention that he has no bias against non-Mormons or women and testified that he has hired many female teachers and administrators.

Thorne's executive secretary, Patricia Sanchez, said the reference to witchcraft and Halloween was deleted from the minutes to correct the record: A board member, not Thorne, brought up rumors going around the community. In addition, she used the phrase "dark side" when summarizing the discussion - not because a board member or Thorne had used it, Sanchez said.

In other testimony, board members Don Naser, Jack Hansen and Tom Hales all said religion and gender, as well as talk about witchcraft and the dark side, had nothing to do with their votes to uphold Jensen's firing. The three are LDS, as is Thorne.

"I like Halloween," Hales, who is president of the board, said. "I like coffee myself."

pmanson@sltrib.com