Language Arts Alissa Hansen

Mrs. Hansen here!

This is my fourth year as a Hawk and I am really looking forward to an incredible year ahead.

I teach English 10, AP Literature & Composition, Journalism, and beginning this year, Advanced Journalism. I was a journalist before I went into education, so being able to bridge what I love most in my career (teaching and advising journalists) through The Talon (AHS’s student-run news team), is my happy place. In under two years since the journalism program has been reignited, staff has taken home 13 Iowa High School Press Association (IHSPA) awards for writing and design, two Best of School Newspapers Online awards for online coverage, two student journalists and Talon editors have earned spots in IHSPA’s top 10 in the state of Iowa as Emerging Journalists, one student journalist and another Talon editor earned full rides to both Drake and The University of Iowa for summer journalism camps, and now The Talon is in the running for All-Iowa News Team! I am one proud adviser.

When I am not advising student journalists, lesson planning for English 10, or helping AP students write an analytical essay of a classic novel, I am hanging with my family outdoors. I have four children. Rhys is 11 and will be a 6th grader this year. Ellis is 9 and going into fourth grade. June is 7 and going into second grade. Our youngest, Finn, just started preschool. My goodness do they grow fast! My husband is an engineer at John Deere. We live a pretty busy life, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

I look forward to meeting you!