Superintendent Bio

Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D., has been an educator for 35 years. She is currently serving as Superintendent in the Westminster School District, previously having served as Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services in Orange Unified School District (OUSD) also in Orange County.

Dr. Hansen has a reputation of excellence in the operations of award-winning schools. She has led instructional innovations, organizational and leadership development, implementation of technology initiatives, development of interventions and support programs for diverse populations, maximization of resources, fiscal efficiencies, school facilities master plans and facilities bond implementation, as well as strategic planning.

During her career in education, Dr. Hansen has served as an elementary and secondary teacher, teacher leader, assistant principal, and principal. She has had district-level responsibilities spanning grades PreK-12. As an assistant director and director of PreK-12 Instructional Services, she implemented many educational reforms to improve student achievement and create innovative programs. As Associate Superintendent in large urban district, she had direct supervision of all high school programs.

The schools in her districts achieved numerous accolades including National Blue Ribbon, CSBA Golden Bell, California Distinguished Schools, California Pivotal Practice Awards, Schools to Watch, and the High Schools were recognized as Best in Nation in the U.S. News & World Report Education Report.

She has been awarded a plethora of awards and professional recognitions throughout her career, including the prestigious State Award from the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) for Central Office Administrator of the Year in 2014, distinguishing her leadership in raising student achievement. Most notably in 2021 she was awarded the Orange County School Board Association Maureen DeMarco Award for Exemplary Superintendents and in 2022 the Orange County 4th District Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Outstanding Superintendent Award. In addition, she is member of several elite professional networks in the nation and state. In 2024, Dr. Hansen was awarded the Superintendent of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 17 for entire Orange County.

She earned her B.S. in Psychology and B.A. in International Relations/Political Science from Tulane University. Both her Masters of Science (M.S.Ed.) in Education and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Policy are from the University of Southern California.