Robyn M. Conrad Hansen Ed.D.
Candidate for President-Elect
Principals Make a Difference

Thank you for all you do every day on behalf of our nation’s children. I am seeking the office of President-elect for the same reason I chose education as a career 31 years ago: I want to make a difference. As a teacher, I wanted to make a difference in the lives of my students every day. As a principal, this desire expanded to making a difference in the lives of children, teachers, staff, parents, and community. As the President-elect and ultimately President of our national Association, I will continue to strive to make a difference in the lives of our nation’s children by advocating on their behalf, working with policymakers, and highlighting excellence in education nationwide.

As an organization, we need to enhance our ability to provide aspiring and practicing principals with focused mentoring, professional development, and access to the latest research. We need to work collaboratively with institutions of higher learning. We need to ensure principals are well prepared to tackle day-to-day tasks while understanding the importance of taking an active role in influencing policies and practices at their local, state, and national levels. As our NAESP Vision states, “We need to ensure that education continues to be recognized as a matter of national priority.”

As a current leader with NAESP, I enjoy traveling and meeting principals across our country, listening to your stories of success and struggles. I use these experiences to advocate for all principals at the national level by working closely with our organization and legislative team. A national leader representing principals at the elementary and middle levels needs to possess certain leadership skills. He or she should be a good listener and communicator, demonstrate optimism and positive energy, embrace and execute the vision and mission of the organization, motivate and inspire others, be able to collaborate across organizational boundaries, demonstrate passion for our profession, and be a champion for a balanced work and personal life. I am committed to working hard every day to exemplify these leadership characteristics.

An NAESP Executive Officer should be a servant leader. Throughout my career, I have strived to enrich the lives of others, build better organizations collaboratively, and ultimately create a caring, attentive climate where all are welcome and respected. As the President-elect, President, and Past-President of NAESP, I will serve the needs of others with a shared leadership style and help people develop their talents to preserve strong organizational structure and promote the importance of being a successful career principal. We will make a difference in the lives of children across our country, support teachers in the classroom, and inspire top-quality teachers to seek higher education and a career as a proud principal. NAESP is the catalyst in promoting high-quality school leadership that is essential to achieving our national goals of making dramatic changes in our schools, improving educational opportunities, and making a difference for all children.  Please cast your vote.

Robyn Conrad Hansen Ed.D.
Principal, Playa del Rey Elementary School
Gilbert Arizona

Education: Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University, 1998 — M.Ed., Educational Leadership, Northern Arizona University, 1989 — B.S., Physical Education/Sociology, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, 1982

Professional Experience: Principal, Playa del Rey Elementary School, 2001–present —Associate Professor, Northern Arizona University, 1998–present — Assistant Principal, Highland Junior High School, 1999–2001 — Assistant Principal, Highland High School, 1993–1999 — Teacher, Gilbert High School Alternative Program, 1991–1993 — Teacher, Pioneer Elementary School, 1990–1991 — Teacher, San Marcos and Four Peaks Elementary, 1987–1990 — Sports Coordinator, Rhinelander High School, Rhinelander, WI, 1984–1987

Professional Affiliations:  NAESP, 2003–present (Board of Directors, 2012–present; Delegate Assembly, 2004–present; Committee on Principal Evaluations, 2011–2012; Nominating Committee, 2011) — Arizona School Administrators Association (Past President Elementary, 2009–2011; President and Board Member, 2007–2009; Middle Level Representative, 1999–2001) — Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Advisory Council, 2009–2012 — NASSP member, 1995–2000

Professional Honors: NAESP Principal Mentor, 2014 — Title I Rewards School, 2012 — Arizona A+ School of Excellence, 2008–2014 — National Distinguished Principal, 2010 — Arizona School Administrators Distinguished Elementary Principal,  2009 —NASSP Assistant Principal of Year for Arizona, 2000 — Northern Arizona University Doctoral Graduate of Distinction, 1998

Civic/Community Honors: Gilbert Sister Cities (Board Member - Education Liaison, 2005–present; Ambassador to China, 2005; Ambassador to Northern Ireland, 2013) — Board Member, Camp Tontozona Outdoor & STEM Education, 2014 —Board Member, Gilbert Boys and Girls Club, 1996–1999