Tara Hansen is a qualified sexual health educator with over 20 years of teaching experience in various educational settings.

She graduated from UBC in 1997 with a Bachelor of Education. Her education degree was precluded by a degree in Human Kinetics with a Physical Education specialization and a Psychology Minor. Her innate passion for teaching was fostered by 11 years of swimming and fitness instruction with students ranging from 6 months to 87 years of age.

 

Tara's first full time teaching position included the subject areas of CAPP (Career and Personal Planning now called Health and Careers) and Learning Assistance Center. It was in these CAPP classes where she realized her ability to connect with her students and support them in the specific area of relationships and sexual health.

 

Her curiosity and love for adventure led her to Japan, where she spent over 3 years teaching English to Junior High School students on the JET Program and snowboarding. She is fluent in Japanese.

 

Soon after returning to Canada, Tara was hired by Options for Sexual Health (OPT) as a sexual health educator in the West Kootenays,fulfilling her dream to specialize as a teacher in this subject area. When the opportunity arose, she transferred to Vancouver to join the OPT team in the creation of and participation in Canada's first Certification Program for sexual health educators. She has represented OPT as an educator in a wide variety of settings such as; public and private schools, youth in custody, professional development of teachers and nurses, and parent groups of various schools.