(Edmonton) Shirley Hopkinson has been described as a "giant" in education. Winner of the U of A's Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008, and a nationally recognized educator for her exemplary leadership, she helped students at Barnard Elementary School in Washington, D.C. improve their test scores by more than 30 percentage points in reading and math in 2007-the highest improved scores in the district.
Hopkinson has received many accolades over the years, including a District of Columbia Teacher of the Year Award in 1991 and an American Teaching Award in 1992. As an administrator, she received the 2005 Principal of the Year Award from the U.S. federal Head Start Program. Passionate and uncompromising about educating all children entrusted to her, she co-developed Project CAPABLE, an after-school program to help parents reinforce classroom lessons, and created Next Step, a collaborative venture with an inner-city early childhood centre, to help give all children a chance for achieving excellence in education. She has also worked part time at the Smithsonian Museum to raise money for books, toys and supplies.
In this video she talks about what it took to turn her school around, as well as the lasting impression the U of A made on her career and the crucial support she received from the university in a time of need.
If you would like to make an In Honor gift on behalf of Shirley Hopkins to the Honourable Dr. Lois E. Hole Student Spirit Award Fund, please click here.