Derby High School social studies teacher Debra Hansen is the Derby School District’s choice for 2014 Teacher of the Year.
Hansen was chosen for the top honor from among a group of teachers from each of the district’s four schools who were nominated by their peers for their excellence in teaching and extraordinary contributions to Derby’s students, families and educators.
Hansen has been a teacher in the district since 2008.
“Mrs. Hansen has been an exemplary employee during her time at DHS,” Derby High School Principal Greg Gaillard said. “Mrs. Hansen inspires her students to take on new challenges and reach their full potential. She connects learning to student interests and to their lives beyond the classroom. In addition to these qualities she is a natural leader and is always willing to share her knowledge with co-workers. She should be commended for the effort she puts forth trying to make history relevant to her students.”
According to Gaillard, Mrs. Hansen has filled a myriad of responsibilities on a regular basis.
Her primary responsibility has been as a classroom teacher and department coordinator, teaching all courses as well as Advanced Placement (AP) psychology.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Matthew Conway said that Mrs. Hansen was chosen for Teacher of the Year based on a myriad of accomplishments.
“Mrs. Hansen always follows and completes the curriculum planned by the state and district,” Conway said. “Her performance as a teacher is professional and conscientious. She accomplishes this quite effectively with strong classroom management skills coupled with a strong educational background and common sense. Mrs. Hansen shares an excellent rapport with the students, parents, staff, and administration.”
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Hansen is active in many areas that support students and teachers.
She facilitates the district’s Teacher Education and Mentoring (TEAM) program and helped lead a team of teachers exploring new daily bell schedules at the high school. She also heads the DHS Sunshine Fund, providing birthday cards and care packages to staff members for all occasions. Most recently, she was appointed to the District Common Core Leadership Team.
Mrs. Hansen will be honored at a ceremony on August 27, 2013 when the district’s teachers return to school for professional development activities.
Also to be honored at the events are the three other teachers who were chosen as Teacher of the Year at their individual schools.
Those teachers are: Elizabeth White, second-grade teacher at Bradley Elementary School; Tracey Hayden, fourth-grade teacher at Irving Elementary School and Shelley Sheridan, a special-education teacher at Derby Middle School.
