Kari Hanson - Principal

Mrs. Hanson has been an educator for her entire professional life. She graduated in 1982 with a BA in Psychology, and a Washington State Teaching Credential in Elementary Education from Seattle Pacific University. She enthusiastically accepted her first position with Seattle Public schools teaching 2nd grade at Olympic View Elementary. She left the classroom in 1988 to stay at home with her first child and a year later was invited to join Seattle Pacific University as an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education. She spent the next 12 years training and coaching candidates hopeful to enter the teaching profession while studying to earn her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction which she was awarded in June, 1993. That fall, she first connected with the John Hay Community when her oldest child entered kindergarten. Five years later, she accepted the challenge of developing and teaching a new enrichment program for advanced learners at Hay which she entitled Pathways. Then in 2005, she returned to the classroom, teaching a 4/5 multi-age class, and four years later entered into administration as John Hay’s Head Teacher. She returned to her graduate studies once more, obtained her administrative credential in June of 2010, and was immediately assigned as the Principal of John Hay Elementary.

Over the years, Mrs. Hanson has enjoyed rich opportunities in education including teaching at nearly every elementary level, designing and implementing school-wide curriculum and programs, influencing up and coming teachers new to the profession, and spending 10 years directing the children’s programming for a large church on Queen Anne. Despite her many pursuits, she considers her family to be her most important venture in life. She and her husband Andy, together, have 4 grown children who remain her first priority and are the key sources of fun, laughter, frustration, focus and dreams for her life.

Mrs. Hanson is most passionate about developing a caring and committed learning community that has everything to do with helping children and adults embrace learning toward becoming the very best they can be. She is thrilled and privileged to share that passion with the staff, students and families of the John Hay Community. If you haven’t yet had the chance to meet her, please feel free to stop by the school office for a visit! She’ll be ready to greet you with a smile.