When Eric Hansen left Webb at the end of the 2024–2025 school year to take on a new role as middle school head at Brewster Academy Madrid, many assumed his chapter on campus had ended. Yet only a few months later, he returned—this time as Webb’s academic learning specialist.  

“I always want to help students figure out how they learn best,” Mr. Hansen said. “Everybody learns differently and has strengths and things to work on.” 

Mr. Hansen has long been a central figure in Webb’s academic and community life. Before his departure to Spain, he served for years in the humanities department, teaching courses such as Advanced Studies Creative Nonfiction and Honors Poetry and Power. But now, he’s undertaken a new role.  

“While Webb has a challenging curriculum, it is also a place where students can figure out how they learn,” Mr. Hansen said. “My role as the academic learning specialist is helping students develop strategies to meet that curriculum.” 

Mr. Hansen now focuses on giving students the tools to understand how they learn, not just what they learn. A central part of that work is strengthening executive functioning skills in students, which includes organization, focus, and task management. It is an area, he noted, that is often missing from traditional classrooms.  

“We don’t usually teach things like filling out a planner or creating a clear agenda of what needs to get done,” Mr. Hansen said. “I want to be able to support students who are figuring out how to take a long project and break it down into smaller, more manageable parts.” 

One of the things that Mr. Hansen wants to get across to current freshmen and incoming students is getting the support they need. 

“Going to office hours does not mean that you’re a bad student,” Mr. Hansen said. “It is actually quite the opposite. What I find is that by senior year, it’s the strongest students who are frequently going to their teachers for support to understand the concepts covered in class.” 

Beyond shifting how students think about learning, Mr. Hansen also hopes to change how teachers and students work together. Supporting diverse learners, he emphasized, requires collaboration across the classroom. 

“I’m really excited about the possibility of helping faculty meet the needs of diverse learners,” he said. “Part of my job is also helping faculty suit the learning to each student’s needs.” 

Reflecting on his time at Webb and abroad, he returns to a simple belief: strong relationships are at the core of strong teaching.  

“Good teaching is good teaching everywhere,” he said. “You’re planful about what you’re going to teach, and you love what you teach, but you also put relationships first.” 

For students looking for academic support or simply hoping to catch up after his time away, Mr. Hansen is easy to find.  

“Berry Lab in the library is open to everyone,” he said. “Students are welcome to pop by and talk about what’s going well or where they might need support. I’ve already helped students during evening study hall with writing assignments, and I’m thrilled to work with students beyond the humanities classroom.”