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Sharon Hopkins – Tustumena Elementary School, Kasilof, Alaska
2016 Kenai BP Teacher of Excellence, and Kenai BP Teacher of the Year

“I am inspired by the children in my classroom,” said Sharon Hopkins. “When first graders become confident readers it changes them. Every year I’m rewarded with this process when each student blossoms into a reader. Plus, I’m always appreciative that I’m a teacher at Tustumena Elementary as I work with a talented, inspiring staff that does whatever it takes to educate and enrich the lives of our children.”

Sharon Hopkins, 2016 Kenai BP Teacher of the Year

“This year’s nominees were again, an excellent representation of our staff as a whole,” said Sean Dusek, superintendent. “They are humble, hard-working and student-centered. I was particularly impressed with how all of the finalists have gone the extra mile for their students and make sure every student they work with know that they are loved. Mrs. Hopkins truly exemplifies what we expect from all of our teachers. She holds high expectations for all of her students, helps every student meet those expectations, makes sure parents are engaged, and truly cares about the individual student beyond academics. She is a gem who has positively impacted hundreds of children in her career and this award is very well deserved!”

To introduce the 2016 Kenai BP Teacher of the Year, Stan Bennion, Vice-President of Human Resources, BP Alaska, said, “This teacher sets expectations for her students and inspires those kids to rise to meet them.

The principal said, “Nobody leaves that classroom without being a reader, regardless of their ability level when they start.”

This teacher is dedicated to preparing kids not only for their future education, but for their whole lives.
The ability to read well is fuel to all other learning. The teacher achieves such great results by getting to know the kids well, what their abilities are, where they’re coming from, what they bring to the class.
This teacher is more than part of the school, they’re part of the community, engaging parents in the education of their children. Some of this teacher’s students are the children of former students. That’s a powerful, long-term effect on a community.
This teacher is beloved.
But it’s more than just personality-this teacher is uniquely capable of motivating young students.
The principal says, “We have the floor, which is our state standards all students have to get to. But this teacher’s target is way above that.”
This teacher knows the kids so well, lessons specifically match learning to the child’s skill level and interests. The result is they’re thirsty to learn.
This teacher routinely goes beyond what is required or even what is expected and educates with the goal of helping every child find a path to success.
Finding that path is the very reason we have teachers.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is with great pleasure that I introduce the 2016 BP Teacher of the Year from the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District, Sharon Hopkins.

2016 Kenai BP Teacher of Excellence

Sharon is a first-grade teacher at Tustumena Elementary in Kasilof where she has been at the heart of the small town of Kasilof for 23 years.
Sharon approaches education by first motivating her students with enthusiasm for learning. She designs lessons that are hands-on to make classwork fun for them. The way she does this is quite simple, and it is an inherent facet of who she is as a person–she herself is enthusiastic about learning.
One parent describes her as animated in class, excited about the subject matter, and that excitement is contagious, stating: “She is patient and kind while also being firm. These are young children in first grade, six and seven years old. But she communicates with them as mature little people, and they rise to the standard she sets for them.” Because it is so evident that she cares for her students, they want to please her, whether that means doing a good job on a project or behaving well in class.
A parent describes the academic landscape at Tustumena as challenging, with a mix of every socioeconomic demographic, but Ms. Hopkins happily and successfully instructs the most academically challenged with equal attention and effectiveness as the most gifted children. She does it all with humor, knowledge and grace.
Sharon sees a distinct benefit to teaching in the same community for more than two decades, stating: “I know many of the families that attend our school. I take advantage of these connections to understand how to help children learn. Working with the children to focus on their strengths allows me to individualize to meet their learning needs.”
She is the bright, shining example of what an adult should be. And the children rise to meet her expectations. They look up to her for a better understanding of what is right and what is wrong, for the decent thing to do, for how to be thoughtful towards others.
Sharon is devoted to her children in and out of the classroom. She is often the first person at school early in the morning, preparing her classroom for the day or working on volunteer efforts. She serves as the treasurer of the PTO, putting her mind to work developing fun, creative ways to raise money to augment the school’s budget. She works to encourage parents to take a greater role in their children’s education, often asking them to volunteer in class and on field trips. She talks with them about how important the parent’s involvement is to a child. In this way, she is a teacher to the parents, as well. She directs or volunteers for the Halloween Carnival, Thanksgiving Bingo for Turkeys, cash raffle, Easter Egg Hunt, fundraising for the local Boys and Girls Club; she plans the Summer Reading Program, Box Top Store, Love of Reading Week, and more.
This is a teacher who, quite simply, has determined that her purpose in life is to help children.
Congratulations, Sharon Hopkins, BP Teacher of Excellence.
Links

• KPBSD BP Teachers of Excellence webpage
• http://www.bpteachers.com/ 

Elementary school teacher Sharon Hopkins is the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District BP Teacher of the Year and the winner of a $1,500 continuing education grant. Hopkins teaches first grade at Tustumena Elementary School in Kasilof, Alaska. A teacher for 23 years in the district, she has taught generations of families. Hopkins says enthusiasm is her most inspiring strength, allowing her students use their sense of wonder to achieve success.  She is known for setting clear expectations and modeling kindness to her students. She also mentors new teachers and volunteers with her school’s parent teacher organization.
The BP Teachers of Excellence program recognized 32 Alaska teachers in 2016, for their exceptional performance in the classroom, dedication to students and contribution to the state’s future. Since the program’s inception in 1995, BP has recognized 680 teachers for their dedication to teaching and inspiring students. This year, the program attracted more than 1,000 nominations.