Dr. Kristina Hansen

By Noah Johnson

njohnson@dailypress.net

ESCANABA –The Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District (DSISD) announced the hiring of Dr. Kristina Hansen as the new DSISD Superintendent.

The DSISD school board announced the unanimous decision this week.

Hansen is the current superintendent of Manistique Area Schools.

“As a board, we are very much looking forward to working with Kristina and having her join and lead our district,” Tammy Wolfe Beauchamp, school board president, said. “During the interview and recommendation process it was evident Dr. Hansen is a passionate educator that will bring a strategic approach to improving student outcomes through data and research, building relationships and consensus with stakeholders and leading by example,” she added.

Hansen will begin her tenure on July 1, taking over for Doug Leisenring, who served as the DSISD Superintendent since 2015. Leisenring announced his retirement in February as he was approached by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators to oversee a state project.

Hansen said she is thrilled to be taking over the position, saying the DSISD and its programs are in a great place.

“The current administrative team at the ISD is solid, and I’ve had the opportunity to work with them as a local superintendent and the idea of being able to be a part of that team to continue to focus on collaborative efforts and to solidify systems of support for students within Manistique, but also in the other local districts throughout the ISD was just something that was very exciting to me,” Hansen said.

When she heard the news of the board’s decision, she said she was very happy and even a little surprised.

However, she said that based on her conversations with the board during the interview, she felt the board shared similar views on the role of the DSISD Superintendent.

“I just felt like I would be the person that would be able to continue the progress that started under Doug Leisenring’s tenure, and that I would be able to move that work forward and bring it to the next level,” she said.

Hansen said her goal once in the position is to learn more about the work being done at the DSISD, and speak with the board further about its expectations for her.

“July is a good time to come in because there aren’t students in the building, so that gives me an opportunity to get to learn more about the adults that work there. It’ll give me time to familiarize myself with the various buildings throughout the ISD. And it’ll give me a chance to organize my office so that I can be efficient and effective in my new role,” she explained.

Hansen added that it’s vital for her to fully understand the programs and systems already in place before thinking about making changes.

She spoke more about the current “solid” state of the DSISD, saying her predecessor is leaving the district in a good place.

“The area that Doug (Leisenring) has really improved upon are putting very strong leaders into each of the big programs that the ISD is a part of,” she said.

This includes early childhood, general education services, special education, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and the learning center.

Hansen added that in her role, she will be able to continue to collaborate with superintendents within the ISD as well as superintendents from other ISDs and other Regional Educational Service Agencies (RESAs).

She said she is most excited about the CTE programs, saying schools are responsible for opening students’ eyes to career possibilities following high school.

“The current programming in place is amazing, and the kids have accomplished so many things. We have award winners in both counties for the different CTE programs that are available. And so, I’d like to be able to learn more about the programming that’s offered, particularly the new welding center at the DSISD,” she said.

She plans to meet with DSISD CTE Director Trent Bellingar about potential expansions within the CTE programs.

Hansen wants families and faculty in the community to know they can count on her being a visible and engaged leader.

“Meaning that if there are kids present, if there’s something that the kids are involved in, they can count on me being a part of that, and they can also count on me being very communicative, letting them know the great things that are happening within the ISD as a building but also within the entire DSISD – all of the local districts,” she said.

Hansen’s husband, Jeff, and their three children supported Hansen’s decision to pursue the position.

“My husband is my biggest cheerleader and he has always encouraged me to grow and expand as a professional,” she said.

Hansen is originally from Escanaba and attended Bay College, where she obtained an associate of arts degree. She went on to study at Northern Michigan University (NMU), where she earned a

bachelor of science degree in elementary education, followed by a master of arts in education specializing in learning disabilities. Hansen returned to NMU to earn an additional master of arts in education in administration and supervision along with an education specialist degree also in administration and supervision. In 2020, she earned a doctor of education in educational leadership from Central Michigan University (CMU).

Her career in education began in Wilson with the Hannahville Indian Community and at the Nah Tah Wahsh Public School Academy.

While there, Hansen served in several roles, including grant coordinator, behavior management trainer, writing project coordinator, and classroom teacher.

In 2010, Hansen joined the Gladstone Area School system, serving as a classroom teacher and a staff trainer.

Later, she served as a member of the administrative team at Jones Elementary as well as Cameron Elementary.

In 2021, she was hired by Bark-River Harris Schools as the school district’s student success coordinator, where she oversaw the Student Success Department.

In November 2023, she was unanimously hired by the Manistique Board of Education to serve as the district’s superintendent.

Hansen will begin her new role at the DSISD on July 1.