Written by Daniel Holscher, Editor
“One Final Round?”
As the 2025-2026 school year approaches and Mr. Hansen ponders his potentially final year as principal, he shares his goals for this year and his feelings on the possible end of his career at Poly.
As the school year begins once more and people ready themselves for the school day, there is always one person who is on campus before anyone else: Mr. Hansen. Having a convenient, small sausage and egg breakfast sandwich every workday, he arrives at Poly at between 6:00 and 6:15 am, ready to spend his day working for the students that will be arriving in the next few hours. He believes that a person needs to love children in order to hold an administrative position at a school. He knows that all staff at Poly have this love in their heart, as he always looks for it whenever interviewing applicants. This love is what led him to where he is now, as he found a second home on campus after initially arriving to coach. Having his daughters in the mix with his work has always given him the convenient comfort he has needed throughout his rich career as Poly High School’s proud principal. With this deep passion to enrich the young-adults of the future, Mr. Hansen is ready to continue Poly’s upward momentum towards honoring its tradition while looking towards its future in his potential final year as principal.
“In With the New, and the Old”
“This year will be my 26th year as an administrator- last year was actually one of the best years I have ever had- and as a school last year we had an amazing year,” Mr. Hansen confidently vocalized. There were many big changes and opportunities that Mr. Hansen took advantage throughout the course of these past few months to make Poly the best it can be. One of the biggest things Mr. Hansen wants to emphasize is a “growing connection between the students and the staff. When students have the internal feeling that the adults on this campus love them, they have a better chance of being successful,” he emphasized. With a ratio of about 2,600 students to 165 adults, it is clear to see why these small connections are so imperative to the spirit and growth of Poly High School. “We (the administrators) might make the decisions but the students drive the actions” Mr. Hansen says.
Many may not realize that Mr. Hansen has been pivotal in many of the cosmetic changes to Poly’s campus over the past six years. Just this year, when students arrived they found some brand new murals and design choices geared towards the patriotic feeling of Poly Pride our High School has offered for over 100 years. “That space outside the theater and below the 800’s” Mr. Hansen started, “I have been looking at those for such a long time and have finally been able to implement our logo and a mural design empowering our School Spirit.” Just outside the Victoria entrance to Poly High School students can now find a plethora of new murals dedicated to serving our pride as a school. Mr. Hansen has promised himself not to stop there in serving the students of Poly High School. The flag poles with the banners around the school have been meticulously changed to “represent and empower” our multiple clubs and athletic teams on campus, he stated. “I want students to walk around and say, ‘oh I never knew we had that club?’, and I want their parents to think ‘look at all the clubs and opportunities they offer!’”
Mr. Hansen has dedicated his years as Poly principal to two very specific goals every single year he comes back to campus. Number one is to create a High School in which “every student in Riverside wants to go.” Number two is to create a School in which “every teacher in Riverside wants to teach at”. This combination of student and staff respect harbors the environment Mr. Hansen strives for at Poly: Pride and success.
“A Bear and his Cave”
As the 2025-2026 Poly School year begins, Mr. Hansen has begun detailing the beginning of his end as Principal over his Poly empire. “Its no secret that I may be putting in my last year here at Poly- but if I do leave I want to make sure that our school has everything it needs to thrive after me” he started. Mr. Hansen will continue to put in the work to cater to all of Poly’s needs, even if it does happen to be the end of his reign. “My formal decision will be made by the New Year. With my girls leaving this year, is there a better way to go out?” he finished. There comes a day where every person will put their coat up and retire from the job they love most, but the feelings of passion and duty towards that place will never die from the soul.“ The hard part is, and always will be, that I still love doing what I do” he reminisced. And although a chapter may be coming to a close, Mr. Hansen has high hopes for the future and success of the High School he has dedicated many years of his life to. “It’s all in the culture. A place where everyone feels they belong so that they themselves can strive for success. That is more than enough for Poly High School to thrive.”
Poly has success written all throughout its history, and Mr. Hansen is another stepping stone for Poly’s everlasting reputation as a school of Passion, Respect, Integrity, Dedication, and Empathy. So for one last potential time, Poly Bears check in, and Mr. Hansen checks out, leaving nothing but impending triumph for Riverside Polytechnic High School. Once a Bear, always a Bear.