by Jen Myers

(Each month, UniCare, InsideLowell and Lowell Public Schools will honor a Lowell teacher for their exemplary work in the classroom and for going the extra mile to serve as a positive influence in the lives of their students)

Beautiful old hardwood floors that creak when you step on them, high ceilings, the alphabet scrawled in cursive bordering the wall, remnants of old blackboards dotting the walls between the large, high windows.

Stepping into Classroom 1 at the Laura Lee Therapeutic Day School is like stepping back in time – until you spot the Smartboard.

There is no dusty chalk in this classroom. Teacher Martha Hanson discusses a word problem with a student, then maps out the math on the screen, which she then magically erases with a swipe of the back of her hand. Modern tools in an old school setting.

Hanson, a special education teacher, has been guiding students at the Laura Lee since 2007. The school provides a safe learning environment for students who have social-emotional, behavioral, and other challenges, many of whom thrive in this small setting that allows for more one-on-one instruction.

On this Tuesday morning, Hanson starts the day teaching 7^th grade math to three students. They tackle the proportional relationship between centimeters and meters then move on to a word problem about water flow. She explains to them if they need help organizing the information to help them visualize the path to a solution, create a table.  When they get stuck, she helps them work through the roadblock.

“I try to provide a structured classroom where my students feel safe, respected and cared for,” Hanson said. “One of the most important things I do in order to help my students is to take the time to get to know them. That way I know what each one needs when they are frustrated whether it’s space, sitting next to them, letting them draw or write to express themselves, or giving them fidgets because what works for one will probably not work for another.”

Laura Lee Coordinator Paula Peters said Hanson has “a kind demeanor and brings a calm presence to the classroom.”

She sounds like a natural teacher, but it took her a little trial and error to find her path.

Hanson grew up in Methuen, moving to Tewksbury her junior year of high school and graduating from Tewksbury High. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from UMass Lowell.

“After graduating college and working at an internship, I realized I was not happy,” Hanson said.

Instead of settling into a career she did not love, she had the courage to change directions.

“I decided to get into substitute teaching in Lowell and also began working at St. Ann’s Home in Methuen,” Hanson said. “While working at St. Ann’s in the school setting and on the unit, I decided I wanted to get into special education and signed up for graduate school.”

She earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Fitchburg State and taught for one year each in Lawrence and Andover before landing in her forever home – the Laura Lee – in 2007.

“Our students have complex profiles which may include academic, emotional, and behavioral issues,” she said. “Most of our students are working significantly below grade level and have had negative experiences with school before coming to Laura Lee.”

It is the charge of Hanson and her colleagues to turn the impact of those negative past experiences around and work with each child to help them meet their full potential.

“I love working with my students and staff; We are all here to help and support each other,” she said.   “We love to celebrate their successes as a team. Working in a small setting it allows us to really get to know the students and help them have a great school experience.”

While she loves teaching all subjects, teaching reading is her passion.

“I love teaching struggling readers how to become readers,” Hanson said. “I just love to watch my students faces when they realize “I am reading!” I love teaching them different strategies to help them decode and they are always willing to give it a try.”

Peters said one of the things she most admires about Hanson is her commitment to seeking out and participating in professional development opportunities to strengthen her skill set as a teacher.

“It is important to keep learning so we can keep growing as teachers,” said Hanson, who is currently taking part in LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training and a grant-funded science course for Lowell teachers through Cambridge College. “We need to stay on top of new strategies in both academics and social-emotional learning to meet the needs of our diverse group of students.”

LETRS is an intense two-year-long training focused on the science of reading that she said has taught her a lot about how the human brain works and has provided her with different strategies to use in the classroom.

When students leave her classroom and move on to something new, Hanson said she hopes they leave with the belief that they really can do anything.

“I want them to have an open mind and give it a chance,” she said. “Trust that you have the skills to do it.”

All About Ms. Hanson

Hobbies: Reading, gardening
Dream Vacation: Anywhere on a tropical beach
Favorite song to sing in the car: “Levitating” by Dua Lipa
Favorite meal: Homemade macaroni and cheese
Favorite snack: Sour cream and onion potato chips
Favorite movie: Grease
Favorite book: Anything by James Patterson
Favorite TV Show: General Hospital