The bells rings through the hallways and doors begin to shut. The lights are turned off leaving sunlight to surround the room. A whir from the projector fills the quiet room. The sound of heels against the tile floor reaches the front of the room as Ms. Heather Hopkins stands by the board.
Freshman English Language Arts teacher and Head Cheer Coach Heather Hopkins won teacher of the year for the 2020-2021 school year. She has been teaching at Fort Osage for six years. Ms. Hopkins was excited to learn she had won.
“I was really honored to even just be nominated and I was really shocked when they came in and said I own the building Teacher of the Year,” Ms. Hopkins said.
Coach Hopkins received a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education in English Arts from the University of Missouri. She cheered all four years at MU, serving as captain her senior year, and was in the Delta Gamma sorority. Sophomore Cheerleader Lohany Galeas appreciates having Coach Hopkins in her life.
“She is one of my biggest role models for everything that she does,” Galeas said. “We really look up to her for her positivity and her approachable personality.”
Ms. Hopkins also received a Masters Degree in Athletic Administration from William Woods University and an Education Specialist in Principalship from Arkansas State. Sophomore Destiny McDonald enjoys being in Ms. Hopkins class.
“She is very understanding, she’s always there for you and encourages you to do good,” McDonald said.
She works for the National Cheerleaders Association and travels to teach cheer camps across the country. Freshman Cheerleader Aurora Berry enjoys her coach’s commitment to her athletes.
“In cheer she helps a lot with our movements,” Berry said “Whenever we don’t get it she knows how to get us into it even when it’s a tough practice she knows how to make it energetic and fun.”
Ms. Hopkins teaches English Language Arts I, Honors English Language Arts I, and Critical Analysis of the Cultural Importance of Athletics. Ms. Hopkins enjoys working with her highschool students.
“Teaching here I try my best to get my curriculum to where kids admit they enjoy it,” Ms. Hopkins said. “I think my biggest celebration as a teacher is always trying to figure out the most resistant students and trying to get them to say they actually enjoyed a project or an activity.”
Hopkins points to the Google Classroom assignment on the board. She explains the instructions and releases her students to begin their work.