Getting to Know an Exceptional Teacher from Hanson Park Elementary School

Ms. Kari Sager is an absolutely beloved member of the Hanson Park Elementary School community. One of her colleagues describes her as kind, thoughtful, and having an excellent sense of humor. As a special education teacher, Ms. Sager is known for going above and beyond to meet her students’ needs and forming strong relationships with students and colleagues alike. 

We connected with Ms. Sager to learn more about what makes working at Hanson Park such a great experience that she looks forward to. Read more about her below.

How did you end up at Hanson Park, and why did you pursue special education? 

I’ve always enjoyed working with kids. In high school, I was in a careers in education program, and I loved it. Through my clinical experiences in college, I always found myself drawn to special education students. They were always my favorite students to work with. There was one student I had in particular during student teaching, and I remember thinking that I wanted all of my students to be like her. 

This is my 13th year at Hanson Park, and this is the only school where I’ve taught. I feel like I’ve found a home here. The students keep me coming back. I’ve never even really looked for opportunities elsewhere. 

What are some of your favorite memories of working at Hanson Park?

I love our community events, especially our holiday extravaganza. The proceeds from that benefit our special education students. The whole school is invited. There are raffles and food, as well as opportunities to decorate ornaments or take pictures with Santa. There is so much energy. I even sometimes see former students who have graduated and come back to Hanson Park. It’s a great way to maintain and build relationships with families. 

How has this school year been going so far? 

It’s been going well. Every year and every batch of students is different, but I’m lucky in my position to sometimes be able to work with students for two or three years in a row. It’s helpful to have that foundation already built, while also focusing on forming new relationships as well. 

What are your goals for this year? 

My first goal is always to make school a place where students want to be and are excited to come to. From there, it’s about meeting them where they are and seeing how far we can get together. It’s rewarding to see both their academic growth and social-emotional growth. 

What advice would you give to new special education teachers? 

Flexibility is absolutely key. You’re going to try some things that are going to work well, and that’s going to feel amazing. However, you are going to try some things that aren’t going to work, and that’s okay. This doesn’t mean that you’ve failed or done anything wrong. If you stay persistent and keep your students at the forefront of all you do, you’ll get the most joy and fulfillment from them. They’re going to impact your life just as much as you impact theirs. 

If you could sum up your time at Hanson Park in one word, what would it be and why? 

Fulfilling. The relationships I’ve built here have impacted my life both personally and professionally. That has given me so much drive and motivation as I continue on in my career.