Karen Hansen retires from school district

Bay Laurel Elementary School Principal Karen Hansen has announced she will retire from public education at the end of the school year.

Hansen has been with the district for 28 years. She started her career at Chaparral Elementary School in Calabasas as a fifthgrade teacher and taught at Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills for 16 years, teaching all grade levels but kindergarten and fifth grade. After a year in a principal's internship, Hansen was hired as principal of Sumac Elementary School, a position she said she enjoyed for nine years. For the past two years, Hansen has been at the helm of Bay Laurel.

"Karen has been a tremendous asset to LVUSD and, more importantly, a true advocate for children," said Dan Stepenosky, assistant superintendent of personnel.

Hansen's husband, Steve, will also retire from his job as an independent study teacher in the Las Virgenes Unified School District. Together, they plan on enjoying the pleasures in life, such as visiting their daughter, son-in-law and twin granddaughters on Orcus Island off the coast of Washington. In addition, Hansen's son and his wife are expecting their first child.

"We've worked all our lives," Hansen said. "I want to sit in my rocking chair and read. I want to travel and visit family in the Midwest. We're not worldwide travelers, but (we) want to see the sights."

Hansen carries many fond memories as a teacher and principal in the district. She remembers working for a year with a special education student who on the last day of school brought her a rose.

"It was broken off at the top, but he was so proud," Hansen said. "It was so sweet."

The challenges of being a teacher and a principal are different, and so are the rewards, Hansen said.

"As a teacher you work with a class of 30 kids, and every year it changes," she said. "As principal you get to work with so many more kids and families, and are able to watch kids progress through the grades. It's very rewarding."

Hansen said adjusting to retirement might be difficult. She spoke of the people she's met in the district and the "supportive" administration, saying, "We've had a wonderful time together. I'll miss the kids, the families—the relationships."

Karen and Steve Hansen moved to California from Iowa when Steve was offered a job at NBC. "We were going to make our money and go back," Karen Hansen said. "We're still here," she said, adding that they never had any regrets.

Rose Dunn, director of elementary education, has known Hansen for almnost 20 years.

"(Karen) is a dynamic leader with a big heart and a wonderful sense of humor," she said. "While it will be a big loss to Las Virgenes, (Karen's retirement) is welldeserved, and I can't wait to hear about her adventures and continued contributions to making the world a better place."

Hansen was honored on Tuesday by the board of education and her colleagues at Bay Laurel.