Hansen to Speak at Worth County Alumni Reunion

Each year the Worth County Alumni Association asks a member of the class celebrating their 50th Anniversary to be the guest speak for the all school reunion June 22,2008 at the High School Gymnasium. This year our speaker will be Judy Gates Hansen of Bettendorf, Iowa. Judy is the daughter of the late Paul Gates and Cornelia Gates, now residing in Hamilton, Missouri.
After her graduation from Grant City High School, Judy enrolled in the College of Education at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
As a student in Family and Consumer Sciences, Judy found her special interest was in Child Development. She followed that course of study and gained practical experience working in the University’s Child Development lab school. She used this knowledge later in the development of a lab school for Pleasant Valley High School that is now in its thirty-second year.
After college graduation, Judy married Dale Hansen who was also a teacher. They were married forty years before he lost his battle with cancer.
Judy taught at the junior high level in the Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa schools before their daughter and son were born.
Judy’s return to teaching led her to Pleasant Valley High School where she retired after twenty five years.
One of Judy’s memorable experiences was being presented her retirement plaque by the president of the teacher’s association who was one of the first students to seek a career in education because of the Child Development career lab at P.V.H.S.
In retirement she enjoys spending time with her children and six grandchildren, traveling and participating in her church and community activities.
Judy thanks the association for the honor of representing her class at this year’s reunion.