Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D. Appointed Interim Superintendent, Orange Unified School District

Orange, CA – September 19, 2017 – The Orange Unified School District Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D. to the position of Interim Superintendent at the September 14, 2017 regular session meeting.

“Dr. Hansen is extremely knowledgeable and has demonstrated great leadership as the Deputy Superintendent. During the process of identifying a superintendent search firm and interim superintendent, she has led the District and provided a valuable service to our community. The 2017-18 school year has started smoothly, and the continuity of her leadership as the Interim Superintendent will provide stability to the District students, staff and parents,” said Rick Ledesma, President of the Orange Unified School District Board of Trustees.

“We have someone who is performing the role of acting superintendent and shown herself to be capable. Dr. Hansen has done a fine job of running the District, and she will lend strength to the superintendent search process by providing confidence as we go through and consider who will be the next superintendent for Orange Unified School District,” said Board Member Tim Surridge.

Michael L. Christensen retired as Superintendent on August 1, and Dr. Hansen has been filling the vacancy since that time. Also at the September 14, 2017 Regular School Board Meeting, the Superintendent Search Firm, Leadership Associates, was selected to conduct an executive search process during the 2017-18 school year to identify the successor Superintendent for Orange Unified School District. It is expected the search process will begin immediately.

In addition to the numerous awards and professional recognitions Dr. Hansen has received throughout her career, she was named 2014 California Central Office Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) for her outstanding work raising student achievement.

Congratulations to Dr. Hansen.