What is Class Like?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are we going to blow stuff up?

Are you a Chemistry student? There are a number of combustible and otherwise energetic substances we will be observing, so yes. :)

Are you a Biology student? We do plenty of labs where you'll see things you've never seen before.
You might need to wait for Chemistry for the fire though.

Are your courses hard?

Students in my courses have a 99% pass rate. I'm very good  at breaking down complex topics and processes for those who need to see smaller individual steps when learning science. Students who are present, engaged, and organized typically do very well in my courses.

Why did you become a science teacher?

Many of my relatives (3 grandparents, my aunts, and my parents) have been teachers and I had thought about being a science teacher since I was in high school, but didn't originally study that in college. I went to a liberal arts university which basically means that you take a wide variety of classes in addition to the classes for your major. I found that I really enjoyed my required speech classes and being involved in minor roles in multiple drama productions and even an opera! So in my Junior year I switched from being a biochemistry major (intending to be a pharmacist) to science education. Being a science teacher was a natural fit to combine my affinity for science and communication. Since becoming a teacher I've enjoyed furthering my education to the point of pursuing a doctoral degree in education technology and instructional design. I should be done by Spring 2025. By then I'll have completed 12 years of college coursework!

Where does all the stuff in your room come from?

If you're referring to unusual furniture and the other cool stuff around the room most of it comes from gifts, grants, and school funding. The artificial plants are gifts from retired teachers. The audio system components in the lab are from a former teacher and my father in law. The rechargeable calculators were purchased with ESSER funds from the federal government. Most of the cool furniture like the bean bags and shelves came from teacher supply funding from South Carolina. The giant clock in the lab, the lamps, and the speaker system in the front of the room are from three different Donors Choose grants that were funded by various community members and friends of Mr. Hansen. Many of the posters were free from the internet and some were made my my brother who's a graphic designer. The LED strips are from Amazon, and were an inexpensive purchase with teacher supply funds. Sometimes, students and their families give me Amazon gift cards. I usually use these to get boxes of extra notebook paper, binders, and pencils in bulk to provide free to students.  Sometimes, EOC teachers get reward money (for classroom use) for high EOC scores.

TLDR: Basically, if there's anything cool or unusually nice in my room, there's a story of someone else's generosity who supports the cause of public education and is wishing us the best for a successful and enjoyable school year. :)

What's up with standing desk and big monitors?

Mostly because I thought it would be cool, and it is also good for my back and overall posture. This is one of the few items in the room that is a personal purchase...and there's a story behind it! When I had an apartment a few years ago my downstairs neighbor was a hoarder. She moved away and her apartment was vacant for months and...it was bad. When her family came a few months later to clean it up I asked if they wanted to hire someone to clean it for them. They agreed and I not only got paid to clean it up but was allowed to keep the funds from the sale of the furniture that was in good condition. The cash from that random side job was more than enough to get a fancy desk, and I've used it for seven years now. Recently, the original bamboo top got worn to the point that I was interested in replacing it and getting something larger. The new hardwood surface is acacia wood butcher block countertop from Home Depot, way cheaper than what the standing desk companies sell. As for all the monitors, they help me work to my full potential. With so many education resources and utilities being digital now, more screens are helpful. Also, I teach online high school courses for Greenville County through the GCVSP program.