Harlan Hansen

So You Want to Be a Teacher! Harlan Hansen

This book is a memoir of a young man making a major occupational change after first embarking on a business career after college and army service. Flashbacks to his early family life, academic struggles at school, the stint in the army, an unsuccessful marriage, dissatisfaction with the business culture, and dealing with limited financial resources are challenges that had to be met. But a single encounter with a graduate school faculty member opened the door to a field for which he eventually realizes he is most suited--early childhood teacher education. Along the way, another angel joins in the adventure to foster personal success and promote creative ways of dealing with educational issues, bringing new life into the classroom.

He received two outstanding teaching awards at the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development. He also received the National Horace T. Morse-Amoco Outstanding Teaching Award, as well as the Governor of Minnesota's Outstanding Service Award. He served as president of the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, and he originated the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Educators.