Laurel Hanson

Laurel grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and was blessed to have grandparents who loved the Lord and saw to it that she attended church regularly and heard the Word of God spoken. When Laurel was twelve years old, she went forward to accept the Lord as her Savior on Easter Sunday. She was baptized that day, and knew without a doubt that Jesus would always be with her. Her teen years were tumultuous with the death of her sister and a cross-country move that landed her family in San Diego.

There were times of struggle; but in 1984, the Lord led her to Christian Heritage College. It was there that she rededicated her life to the Lord, and spent a year traveling with a music ministry team throughout the U.S. and Canada. The following year she began working as a counselor in residential treatment; and over the next ten years she helped to teach and counsel troubled youth, while simultaneously training staff and developing age-appropriate programs for new facilities. In 1987, she married her sweetheart, Dave; and they were blessed with four wonderful children. It was after the birth of their fourth child that Mrs. Hanson returned to school to complete her degree and teacher training.

Mrs. Hanson graduated Magna Cum Laude from Christian Heritage College in 1998 after securing a BS in Business Administration. She then entered the credentialing program, earning her Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in 2000. She also holds both RICA and CLAD Certification. While working at the Rock, Laurel learned about Pensacola Christian College. She began attending during summer sessions, and was able to successfully graduate Summa Cum Laude with a master’s degree in Education Administration.

Mrs. Hanson began her teaching career in the public school system working for the Cajon Valley Union School District, while specializing in reading and writing. She was then called to minister at Santa Fe Christian School in Solana Beach. Her stay at SFC was a great time of learning and blessing, yet Laurel realized that God was calling her elsewhere.

She resigned her position in 2003, and waited for God’s direction. She joyfully became a member of the Rock Academy teaching staff that summer. God is SO good! She is delighted to be a part of the Rock family and is overjoyed to have the opportunity to teach at the Rock Academy where Christian, academic, and social excellence are esteemed.

Mrs. Hanson maintains high expectations for her students. She sees the students as gifts from God who possess the potential to grow, mature, learn, and serve their Heavenly Father. She knows, and tries to convey to her students that with God all things are possible.