Who is Mr. Hansen?     

                                                                                (Mr. Hansen in 3rd grade at Cherry Lee Elementary School)

                                                                              (One bit of advice: DON'T LET YOUR MOM CUT YOUR HAIR!)

     This will be my 23rd year teaching, my 20th year here at Monte Vista, and my 18th year teaching 3rd grade.  My first two years were spent over at E. Hale Curran and I spent one year over at Buchannan.  I originally wanted to be a high school history teacher, but found my true calling as an elementary school teacher.  I love this school and I love teaching 3rd graders with their limitless enthusiasm and their thirst for knowledge.  People even tell me I have a "third-grade sense of humor!"  I think that's a compliment.

     I am married to a beautiful lady named Kelly who is also a teacher.  She's a high school history teacher and works at the continuation high school in San Jacinto. These days we stay busy working on our ranch out in the community of Sage, just east of Lake Skinner.  We have two dogs named Leia and Sammy and a cornsnake named Talullah  We have two children (my step-kids), William and Katherine. Will graduated from college in 2013 and, after spending a year and a half living and working in Europe, is back home continuing his education.  He has just earned a second Bachelor's degree and is now pursuing a Master's degree in Microbiology. Katie is married to a great guy named Josh and they have two beautiful little boys (my grandsons) named Ryker and Maddox. They are currently living, working, and going to school in Arizona.  

     Over the years, I have been very involved in our community.  I've served on the committee for the American Cancer Society's RELAY for LIFE of Murrieta and I spent two years serving on the Board of Directors for the Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation (http://www.srpf.org/).  At school, I have been responsible for organizing the "Pennies For Paws" fundraiser benefiting the local animal shelter, as well as heading up the Monte Vista Staff Scholarship, which provided a college scholarship to a graduating senior from Vista Murrieta High School.  I've served on our School Site Council, have served twice as one of our MTA site reps and held the position of webmaster for several years. Needless to say, volunteerism and giving back to the community are very important to me and I always encourage this with my students.

    It is my sincere hope that each child I teach will not only reach their full potential academically, but will leave my class at the end of the year a better person.  I hope they become the type of person who has the confidence to meet the challenges of life and a kind heart to help others along the way.