This week, Cheryl Hansen of the Mt. Diablo Unified School announced that she will run for Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools in the 2018 election.
She now joins Contra Costa Office of Education Senior Director of Educational Services Lynn Mackey (Martinez) and Concord City Councilman Ron Leone who have jumped into the race to succeed Karen Sakata. Sakata announced she would not seek re-election.
Here is a look at the press release by Hansen.
CONCORD – Cheryl Hansen, a Mt. Diablo Unified School Board Trustee since 2010, has announced that she will run for Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools next year.
With a life-long dedication to and service in public education, Hansen’s experience is wide-ranging and comprehensive.
“Education has been both my career and my commitment. I am, passionately, a student and teacher for life,” Hansen said. “I taught for many years at the middle and high school levels, served as a vice principal and principal, and had the privilege of working at the County Office to provide leadership training to teachers and administrators from throughout the state.”
“My more recent experiences as a trustee serving the Mt. Diablo school district give me additional perspective and expertise that would allow me to quickly and effectively step in as Superintendent and lead the County Office of Education forward as a valued and trusted partner and resource for public education in the Contra Costa community.”
Hansen is finishing her second term on the Mt. Diablo School Board and feels she has accomplished what she set out to do as a Board member and is ready for new challenges.
“It was important to me to change leadership and the district culture to a positive, forward-thinking organization. As with the rest of our community, I wanted Mt. Diablo Unified to be a destination district that attracted and supported the best, where students received a competitive, comprehensive education that prepared them for college and careers,” said Hansen. “I also wanted to ensure that the positive changes I worked for were rooted and sustainable. Clearly that has transpired as Mt. Diablo is in great hands with Superintendent Meyer and will keep getting better and better with her leadership.”
Along with serving as a School Board member for Mt. Diablo Unified, Hansen worked as a County Office of Education administrator for ten years where she developed and led Tier II credentialing and leadership training for hundreds of district and school administrators throughout Contra Costa and the State. She also worked with districts and schools throughout the county to improve teaching and learning and strengthen academic programs. Currently, Hansen continues her work as a coach and mentor for school administrators.
Hansen’s teaching and administrative experience includes working in small to large districts. She served as the founding principal of Rodriguez High, Fairfield-Suisun’s third high school. Prior to that, she worked as an assistant principal at Alhambra High in Martinez and a vice principal at College Park High in Mt. Diablo. Hansen was also a middle and high school teacher at Ygnacio Valley High, Northgate High, Olympic High, and Oak Grove Middle in Mt. Diablo.
A Walnut Creek native, Hansen holds a bachelor’s degree in English and French from Cal State Hayward, professional clear teaching and administrative services credentials, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.
Hansen stated that she is eager to bring her proven leadership skills and unique experience at all levels of public education to serve the county’s districts and students. “CCCOE needs to have leadership from someone with a breadth of experience who understands that one of the major functions of the County Office of Education is to be a true service provider to school districts, an organization that is responsive, relevant, current, and supportive,” Hansen said. “I am confident I can serve effectively and with a focus on equity and excellence.”
“It would be a great honor to serve this wonderful community at a new level.”
