Biography

The Community of Norwalk has been in the heart of Reina Flores-Hansen from day one. Growing up as a preacher’s daughter, her earliest memories are of waking up early every Sunday and traveling to Norwalk with her parents to minister and serve the community. Even at a young age she was a natural born leader helping teach children in Sunday school. As a teenager herself, Reina led her church youth group, organized community events and consistently exemplified high standards in home, church and school. She was a tenacious student invariably achieving high accolades. Reina was raised in Hacienda Heights and graduated from Glen A. Wilson High School.

After high school, Reina continued her education to Rio Hondo Community College in Whittier, California. She earned an Associate of Arts Degree in Accounting. This accounting degree allowed her to work in the business industry such as United States Gypsum Corporation while concurrently enrolled in college. Reina earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Psychology from California State University of Long Beach.

Reina’s first position in education was at Nogales High School in Rowland Heights in the Rowland Unified School District. The district provided opportunities for growth and professional development. Opportunities with the Rowland Unified School District included school guidance, Special Education Resource Specialist Teacher, Swim Coach, and ESL teacher at the Adult School. Reina was accepted to Azusa Pacific University in a Graduate program to pursue a Master ofArts in Clinical Psychology with na emphasize in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT). Simultaneously, she was accepted in APU’s Master of Business Management Program. Reina discovered she wanted to change her major from Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) to Pupil Personnel Services. In May 1996, Reina graduated from APU with a Master of Arts in-Educational Counseling; and in August of 1996, she received a Master Degree in Management, also from APU. During the summer of 1997 she completed a Spanish Translation Program at the University of Salamanca in Spain.