Editor’s word: Lance Hansen assumes this place July 1.
Variety of staff you’ll oversee: 2,500
Lance Hansen
Temporary background about your profession. I’ve been in schooling for 33 years – 15 as a instructor, 4 as an assistant principal, two as a principal, eight as an assistant superintendent and 4 as a superintendent.
What drew you to the Kennewick Faculty District and our neighborhood?
I’ve heard a lot concerning the dedication of the Kennewick neighborhood to schooling, and once I realized extra concerning the district’s imaginative and prescient and the emphasis on scholar success, I knew it was a spot the place I might make a significant impression. The neighborhood’s sturdy connection to its faculties, mixed with the district’s forward-thinking strategy to schooling, actually resonated with me. I’m excited to be part of a spot that values development and collaboration.
What are your high priorities to your first 12 months?
My high priorities can be attending to know the scholars, workers and households within the district, understanding the distinctive challenges we face and guaranteeing that now we have a transparent imaginative and prescient for supporting scholar success. I’ll additionally deal with creating open traces of communication, each inside our faculties and with the broader neighborhood, to make sure that everybody feels heard and valued.
Many communities are divided on how faculties ought to deal with social and political points. How will you navigate that panorama right here?
Faculties are part of the neighborhood. As such the core values and expectations of the neighborhood have to embedded within the faculties’ cultures and climates. Navigating totally different points entails discovering a standard lens wherein all can see the subject from the identical perspective. This implies listening to know and valuing differing views.
What do you see as the most important challenges going through Ok-12 faculties in the present day?
I consider the best problem is assembly the wants of all college students with the assets which are accessible.
When you might deliver any movie star or historic determine to talk at a faculty meeting, who would you decide and why?
I would really like Abraham Lincoln to talk to our youth. He noticed a rustic that had no future with division, and he was an incredible orator.
What was your favourite topic in elementary faculty? Favourite class in highschool?
I preferred all topics in elementary faculty and math was my favourite topic in highschool with Spanish ending an in depth second.
What’s one attribute that you simply consider each chief ought to possess?
Each chief should possess the flexibility to discern.
What recommendation would you give somebody going right into a management place for the primary time?
I’ll inform the particular person to be a greater listener than talker. Be affected person with your self. Management is a studying course of, and it’s OK to not have all of the solutions instantly. Encompass your self with a supportive workforce, hear actively and lead with integrity. The extra you put money into understanding your individuals and the challenges they face, the more practical you’ll be.
Who’re your position fashions or mentors and why?
My father was a job mannequin for me. He would at all times assist anybody who was in want and his phrase was his bond. I’ve had many mentors all through my profession. Former lecturers and coaches come to thoughts. The very best mentors are those that instill a perception in you that you could be not see for your self.
How do you retain your staff motivated?
I have fun success and join data, talent and disposition to desired outcomes. I consider in recognizing and celebrating small wins alongside the best way. Motivation comes from feeling valued and seen, so I make an effort to offer common, particular suggestions and create an atmosphere the place everybody feels empowered to contribute. I additionally encourage steady skilled improvement to maintain our workforce enthusiastic about rising and studying collectively.
How did you determine to pursue the profession that you’re working in in the present day?
My preliminary diploma pursuit was in enterprise operation administration. I later modified to schooling as a result of I needed to be a coach. Nevertheless, after I began my profession as instructor and coach, I started to understand the impression that I might have on others. Transferring from the classroom to administration allowed me to have a good larger impression.
How do you measure success in your office?
Success in our office is measured by the expansion and well-being of our college students. Are they gaining the data, abilities and tendencies they want to reach life? Are they excited to come back to highschool day-after-day? Success additionally contains fostering a optimistic, collaborative atmosphere the place our workers feels supported and valued.
What do you take into account your management fashion to be?
My management fashion is collaborative and servant-oriented. I need to be sure that those that are closest to the scholars have the assist and assets wanted to allow scholar studying to be at excessive ranges. I consider in main by instance and sustaining a powerful sense of integrity in all the pieces I do.
Inform us about your loved ones, and the way you stability work and household life.
My spouse and I’ve 5 kids and 6 grandchildren. My household has at all times been supportive of my profession, and we discover time to guarantee that every are valued.
What do you love to do if you end up not at work?
I wish to play golf and basketball. I additionally take pleasure in music. I principally take pleasure in getting updates on the lives of my household.
What’s your greatest time administration technique?
Calendar all the pieces.
What’s your favourite guide?
I learn something by John Grisham.
Do you will have a private mantra, phrase or quote you want to make use of?
I consider that the golden rule is a private mantra that I exploit typically.