Lawton Virtual Academy teacher Mary Hanson wasn’t originally interested in entering education at the start. She said after spending “too much time in the student union” in her first semester as pre-med, she began to question her major and what she wanted to do.
“I ran across Dr. Parker, who was a professor at Cameron University in Education,” she said, “and I took one of his classes, and that was it.”
Now, after 38 years, she still enjoys coming in each day to teach with her teammates. She said she loves seeing her students come in each morning and hearing their stories.
“I love interacting with students,” Hanson said. “I love making a difference in their lives. I love watching them when they finally get a concept and seeing the excitement on their face … I am fortunate that I have a job that I can come to everyday that I love!”
Hanson was named the Lawton Public Schools Teacher of the Year in 2020, a couple years after returning from retirement. She said she “retired for one year in 2017” and she “had to come back.” She enjoys the comradery with staff and faculty, and the ability to be able to work together and bounce ideas off each other.
“I have been fortunate to work with some amazing administrators who allow me to do my thinking outside the box,” she said. “I got to work with Vanessa Perez and Kris Burd who really opened my eyes to see different ways to teach students and interact with them. Every day is a new day and it’s just fun!”
She is a co-sponsor of Douglas Learning Center’s new broadcast club and “ROAR” YouTube show. She wrote the grant proposal to the Lawton Public School Foundation, which funded the studio equipment that she hopes benefits all students, faculty and staff attending Lawton Virtual Academy and Gateway Success Center.
She hopes all of her students realize how big the world outside of Lawton, Oklahoma really is, and how we’re “just a small piece of what’s out there.”
“Don’t limit yourself,” Hanson said. “Always believe in yourself … If you bet on yourself you will never fail. And don’t be afraid to fail. If you fall, pick yourself up and dust yourself off.”