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The following article originally appeared in the 2020 edition of the School of Education magazine, advancing. For a PDF, please click on the magazine to the right. |
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UCI Lauds & Laurels honors Dr. Carol Hansen
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UCI’s Lauds & Laurels program honored Dr. Carol Hansen (Ed.D. ’05), superintendent of the Ocean View School District, as the 2020 Distinguished Alumna for the School of Education.
A lifelong resident of Long Beach, Calif., Hansen’s contributions to Southern California education demonstrate her commitment to excellence and her compassion for the people she serves. Upon receiving her B.A. and single subject credential in Physical Education from CSU Long Beach in 1984, Hansen began her career teaching physical education, first at Alvarado Intermediate School and then at her alma mater, Long Beach Wilson High School, where she also coached the high school’s swim team. Hansen credits two people for piquing her interest in physical education: Her junior high physical education teacher, who “made Physical Education fun, not competitive,” and her older sister Joan – who won a silver medal in rowing at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and “inspired me to be great at whatever I did.” |
Dr. Carol Hansen (Ed.D. '05)
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After earning her M.A. in Educational Administration and an Administrative Credential from CSU Long Beach in 1989, Hansen served as activities director at Lakewood High School in Long Beach, a site she has particularly fond memories of.
“I met my husband of 25 years, Keith, when we were both working at Lakewood High School – he was an assistant principal and I the activities director,” Hansen explained. “He had previously been an activities director. When you put two activities directors together, you are bound to have a good time – we know how to plan a party!”
Lakewood High students would ultimately sing at the couple’s wedding, preparing a specialized version of “Be True to Your School.”
“I still stay in contact with some of the ‘kids’ and I am proud to say that many of them went on to public service – a fire captain, band director, athletic director, teachers, principals, and attorneys!”
In 1994, Hansen transitioned to Westminster School District, where over the course of 12 years she served as assistant principal, principal, director of personnel, and assistant superintendent of human resources. From 2006-15, Hansen served as the assistant superintendent of human resources in the ABC Unified School District. In 2015, she began her tenure as the superintendent of the Ocean View School District.
“I met my husband of 25 years, Keith, when we were both working at Lakewood High School – he was an assistant principal and I the activities director,” Hansen explained. “He had previously been an activities director. When you put two activities directors together, you are bound to have a good time – we know how to plan a party!”
Lakewood High students would ultimately sing at the couple’s wedding, preparing a specialized version of “Be True to Your School.”
“I still stay in contact with some of the ‘kids’ and I am proud to say that many of them went on to public service – a fire captain, band director, athletic director, teachers, principals, and attorneys!”
In 1994, Hansen transitioned to Westminster School District, where over the course of 12 years she served as assistant principal, principal, director of personnel, and assistant superintendent of human resources. From 2006-15, Hansen served as the assistant superintendent of human resources in the ABC Unified School District. In 2015, she began her tenure as the superintendent of the Ocean View School District.
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Hansen said she was fortunate to have the influence of highly effective, passionate, and strong women leaders during her administrative career. She especially credits former superintendent Sheri Loewenstein, her supervisor when working in the Westminster School District.
“Sheri demonstrated the power of relationships and communication, modeling how these tenets have the potential to influence one’s leadership capacity to leverage positive change for public school systems, especially when it comes to students,” Hansen said. As superintendent, Hansen is committed to supporting innovative school programs that address the diverse needs and interests of the nearly 8,000 students that come through the district’s 15 PreK-8 schools. Current district program offerings include Lake View Elementary School’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) Academy; Westmont Elementary School’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Academy; Golden View Elementary School’s Environmental Science School (featuring a 2.5 acre farm); Circle View Elementary School’s National Blue Ribbon GATE School; and Harbour View Elementary School’s newly implemented Dual Language Immersion Program. |
In 2019, Circle View Elementary School, part of the Ocean View School
District, was one of 362 schools nationwide to earn a National Blue Ribbon
Schools award. From left: Dr. Carol Hansen; Circle View Principal Jessica
Haag; Circle View Eagle Mascot; Ocean View School District Board
Member John Briscoe; and California State Assemblyman Tyler Diep
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“When I visit a school and witness students engaged in learning that captures their interest and makes them love coming to school, I am reminded why I do this work,” Hansen said.
Hansen earned her Ed.D. in Educational Administration from UCI at a time when high-stakes testing was dominating the conversation in education.
“When I reflect on my experience in the Ed.D. program at UCI, I am most grateful for the work around equity and social justice for all students,” Hansen said. “I was guided in my dissertation work to examine closely how students of color and low socioeconomic status can easily be left behind. This led me to care even more deeply about the importance of ensuring that educators understand the significance of teaching for social justice and for understanding how to address equity for our marginalized populations.”
Today, Hansen, true to her training, remains physically active. She and her husband enjoy beach and mountain vacations, Green Bay Packers football, and unwinding on the Alamitos Bay in their electric boat. She has also recently taken to swimming in the Bay.
“I often run into some of my former swimmers in the Bay. It is nice to know that swimming continues to be a lifelong sport for me and for them too!”
Since 1971, the UCI Alumni Association and its board of directors has presented Lauds & Laurels, the association’s highest honor, at a formal ceremony each spring. Lauds & Laurels is the university’s oldest awards ceremony, a tradition that has recognized more than 800 members of the UCI community for their service to the university, the community, or their profession. The 2020 ceremony was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hansen earned her Ed.D. in Educational Administration from UCI at a time when high-stakes testing was dominating the conversation in education.
“When I reflect on my experience in the Ed.D. program at UCI, I am most grateful for the work around equity and social justice for all students,” Hansen said. “I was guided in my dissertation work to examine closely how students of color and low socioeconomic status can easily be left behind. This led me to care even more deeply about the importance of ensuring that educators understand the significance of teaching for social justice and for understanding how to address equity for our marginalized populations.”
Today, Hansen, true to her training, remains physically active. She and her husband enjoy beach and mountain vacations, Green Bay Packers football, and unwinding on the Alamitos Bay in their electric boat. She has also recently taken to swimming in the Bay.
“I often run into some of my former swimmers in the Bay. It is nice to know that swimming continues to be a lifelong sport for me and for them too!”
Since 1971, the UCI Alumni Association and its board of directors has presented Lauds & Laurels, the association’s highest honor, at a formal ceremony each spring. Lauds & Laurels is the university’s oldest awards ceremony, a tradition that has recognized more than 800 members of the UCI community for their service to the university, the community, or their profession. The 2020 ceremony was postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
