Golden Apple 2025: Corey Hansen – The Press-Times

By Kris Leonhardt
MMC Senior Editor

GREEN BAY – “I always loved school, and can still vividly remember some of my elementary school experiences and favorite teachers I had along the way. My father was a machine tool instructor at the local technical college, so I grew up around teaching and tools,” recalled Parkview Middle School Teacher Corey Hansen.

“My dad and my mom have definitely been my greatest teachers and mentors in my life. My mom always encouraged me to become a teacher, and I am glad she did that because I love my job. Two of my uncles and my sister became teachers too, so I guess you can say it is in my blood to teach.”
Hansen attended UW-Eau Claire, where he earned a degree in elementary education and mathematics.

“When I graduated from UW-Eau Claire, I initially worked as a substitute teacher. It’s funny that my first sub job was to be a middle school tech ed teacher, because now I’m a middle school STEM Instructor who teaches tech ed. Things often come full circle, I guess,” he said.

“After teaching a couple of years, I attended graduate school at UW-Madison and earned a masters degree in library and information science. I was hired by the Ashwaubenon School District and worked as a library media specialist for 17 years. During that time, I felt a pull to work in computer science or technology education. I ended up being able to do both when our middle school, Parkview, had an opening for a 6-8 STEM instructor that I was hired into. Now I teach computer science, digital citizenship and technology education coursework as part of our engineering and technology department. I love it that all of our students get exposed to these subjects and can broaden their educational and career perspectives in areas they might not encounter otherwise.

“As a teacher, part of my job is to believe in my students and support them. One of the most influential things in my own career has been the support of those around me, especially my wife, Lisa. My teaching path has changed a few times, and has always involved long discussions with her before deciding what to do.

Hansen said that his classroom is fairly unique at Parkview.

“It is one of two classrooms set up to teach technology education courses, which means that I have equipment like a 3D printer and laser cutter for student use. I am the only person teaching my subject matter, so the experiences students have in my classroom are also unique. I teach computer science, digital citizenship and digital electronics.

“My room is the ‘light up, blinky, loud classroom.’ We learn about things like computational thinking, computer programming, wiring circuits, LED lights, making sound effects, robots, and servo motors.

“My shelves are filled with former student projects to inspire the current classes and let them see what is possible. My classes are as much about failure as success, because when you are creating something new like a computer program or a prototype engineering project there are no instructions to follow.

Failure is part of the road to completion in the engineering design process, so kids learn to deal with bumps along the learning road and how to problem solve on their own.”

Leading up to the 2025 Golden Apple Awards on Wednesday, April 2 at the Oneida Casino Hotel, we will be highlighting the recipients in each edition of the Press Times.