Dreams are windows into our subconscious mind, but it’s rare when they provide us with insight or direction in our waking lives.
And yet, when Stephen Hansell of Klein, Texas woke up from a dream where he was teaching in front of a classroom of students, the vision made sense. The dream had shown him the path forward, and he was more than ready to forge ahead!
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Stephen grew up in the same town he now calls home, attending Klein Independent School District (IDS) schools all his life. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Returning to Klein as a veteran, he tried out a few different jobs before ultimately returning to the school district and taking a job as a custodian at his alma mater, Klein Oak High School.
“I wanted to work for Klein ISD so that I could do something for the kids,” Stephen explained. “Anything would do, as long as I could do my part, so I happily took the custodian job.”
For two years Stephen mopped floors, emptied trash cans, and cleaned classrooms. Meanwhile, he followed his dream of becoming a teacher using Texas’ alternative teaching certification, a process he described as being “rough.”
“Three hundred hours of training, course work, and 30 hours of in-class observations, then after that you have to take your state exams,” he recalled.
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Nevertheless, he pushed through, and this fall he will complete 180 days on the job and become a certified Texas history teacher! Stephen’s first official day in his classroom of 7th-grade students was August 10, 2022. He says he couldn’t have done it without the support of his wife, Adrian, and his fellow teachers and staff at Klein ISD.
“The team at Klein Oak is tight-knit and has always treated me like family,” he said. “They are always welcoming and smiling anywhere you go on campus. I graduated from Klein High School and knew the district was great, so I was excited to come back ‘home’ and serve in any capacity I could. I love it here!”
Stephen is so excited to teach young people! We just know his passion for helping others will greatly inspire both his students and colleagues alike.
Share this story to wish Stephen luck at his new job!