This is Ms. Hansen’s fifth year in the Glenbard district, but her first year at West. Growing up in nearby Wheaton and having prior experience in the districts, she is familiar with our school. Hansen earned her degree in English Education from Illinois State University, and teaching at Glenbard East was her first job out of college.
Ms. Hansen is a traveling teacher. She spends her first two periods of the day teaching seniors creative writing and independent literature at West. She then travels to Glenbard East to teach freshman honors English and coach the boys and girls soccer teams. Traveling was difficult at the beginning and she reports the “start of the school year was definitely crazy while coaching and traveling and getting adjusted to the new school” but she now finally feels like she’s got her footing.
When asked about her favorite part of being a part of a high school, she shares “I like to be involved” and “getting to be around the school is really important” to her. Women’s Empowerment Club meets in the mornings in room 421, where Ms. Hansen teaches her first period class. Sitting in the room preparing for her day, Ms. Hansen enjoys listening in the club’s conversations. She also had fun participating in the events of Homecoming week!
Ms. Hansen’s favorite part of teaching is the kids. “When I talk to my friends who work corporate jobs and who are sitting in front of a desk all day, I feel so lucky that I get to be in front of people and I just get to have fun.” She loves that kids are excited to learn and becomes overjoyed when she sees them really understand a topic. One of the best aspects of the job is “getting to build a relationship with [students] in the classroom then seeing them perform in the theater or on the field or on the court or whatever it is. That’s really cool too.”
Ms. Hansen reveals that the community and atmosphere is different than what she’s used to. She enjoys walking around the lake or downtown with her coworkers. “I think it’s cool that your gym is in a separate building because you’re forced to get outside for part of the day. It is nice to have those different experiences.” She also states that she loves the West community. “I feel like the teachers have been so welcoming and it’s a really great group of kids and teachers obviously teachers.” She remarks “everyone just seems so connected and [it] feels like everyone is excited about being here and being a part of West. It’s definitely made the transition easier.”
