BP Youth Club welcomes director

Fresh from a trip to the local fire department, the group of kids at Blooming Prairie Youth Club walked in the front door, down the hall and right out the back door.

“We’re going outside to play,” one student announced as the line passed through.

Lorissa Hanson was reluctant, but stayed inside to talk to a visitor.

The Medford native is the new executive director at the Youth Club, and it’s the role she’s been waiting for.

Though she’s been a teacher for a few years, those years all involved COVID in some way, making her experience in the classroom quite different from what she expected.

“I’ve never taught a regular year,” Hanson said. In addition, despite a degree in elementary education, she spent one of those years as a special education teacher at Albert Lea High School, then two years in the autism spectrum disorder program at Southwest Middle School.

She and her husband live in Alden with their 2-year-old son Wyatt.

“I have an elementary, K-6 degree, so this is what I wanted,” she said, “and I wanted a change from teaching.”

The daily lesson plans required in a school classroom took away the job, Hanson said.

“I just want to interact with the kids.”

There are about 45 children, kindergarten through sixth-grade, who attend the non-profit, which operates year-round.

Summer attendance can vary quite a bit, Hanson said, “because there are a lot of (family) vacations” and other activities.

It was also a difficult time to step into her new role, she acknowledged.

“Transitioning from school to summer is challenging” for some children, Hanson said, “so we’re working on behaviors. But they’re kids; they respect me, and know when it’s time to have fun and when it’s time to be serious.”

She’s also hoping to make sure the Youth Club remains a positive place for everyone there, from the kids to the 11 staff members, and to ensure it continues to run smoothly.

Hanson thinks that may have been what got her the position.

“I have that teaching background; I told them, ‘Honestly, I don’t have an administration background, I don’t know to use QuickBooks, but I can learn.’ But I think they were looking for the teacher part,” she said.

During the school year, they offer help with homework – things like math and spelling that may require more of a teacher’s touch.

That was just part of the reason, though, said Josi Christy, president of the Youth Club Board of Directors.

“We knew Lorissa was a good fit due to her kind spirit and hard-working ethics,” Christy said. “She has a deep understanding of children through her teaching experiences with special needs kids; she’s skilled in adapting to each child’s specific needs, and she’s a natural leader with the staff.”

Christy said the Board supports Hanson in the club’s mission to provide quality educational and recreational opportunities to empower youth for their future.

“We love our community,” she said, “and know that with Lorissa as our executive director, we’ll strengthen the bond that already exists.”

“It’s a great place,” Hanson said. “I wish my kid was old enough to come here.”