After impacting the lives of different grade levels from several states, Carol Hopson has decided to graduate alongside the Timber Creek Class of 2017, officially announcing her retirement.
Hopson has been teaching at Timber Creek ever since it opened in 2009. Not only does she serve as an AP English Literature and Composition/English IV teacher, but she has also been in charge of the central hallway as the English Department Chair.
“There’s so much interaction between teacher and students in the Language Arts…there isn’t always just one answer,” Hopson said. “And so you get to understand different perspectives and listen to other people’s ideas, and I think there’s a distinct advantage to teaching a course like that.”
She also explains the advantages of teaching grade levels in the higher end of the spectrum. Unlike 7th graders who can be a little unexpected depending on the day, high schoolers are more consistently driven. Since they have extra-curricular activities and/or are looking forward to college, it’s easier for them to stay focused and keep their work done. Similar to these students, Hopson’s motives in coming to school earlier for tutorials and meticulously following a rubric to grade hundreds of research papers are also straightforward.
“I look at kids and see possibilities,” she said. “Anything that teachers–not just me but teachers in general–can do to shape those possibilities so that they can become realities…I think it’s important work that we do.”
Hopson is able to mold her students’ minds, making them be aware of more than what they’ve confined themselves in.
“Sometimes kids come in, especially at senior level, thinking they know everything there is to know about everything,” explained Hopson. “And once they’re exposed because I force them to be exposed to the ways that other people think through discussion, I think their little box that they’ve always been in starts to open, and I think that’s a critical skill for college.”
There’s a lot more after high school.
“The world is a bigger place, and if we don’t have some conversation and learn some things about how other people operate, nobody’s going to be successful at anything.”
In her process of shaping these possibilities, kids were able to leave their marks on her as well.
“While I make a difference in their lives, they certainly make a difference in mine.”
When asked what qualities make her different from other teachers, Hopson humbly responds as she talks about what she has gained from teaching for quite a while.
“There is something to be said for all of the students that I’ve encountered over 30 years,” she said. “I have a certain patience, I think–because I know whatever it is, it’s not gonna last forever.”
Knowing that students are a part of certain clubs and have responsibilities outside of the classroom, she also pointed out that it’s important to attend football games, band concerts, choir performances, and other activities that they are involved in.
“That’s how you build relationships, and that’s how you get work done.”
Kindergarten teachers and Advanced Placement teachers such as Hopson obviously have their own, distinct beasts to tackle, but both get the same feeling whenever they witness somebody finally understand what they’re trying to teach.
“When somebody gets it, people laugh about seeing the light bulb go on but, wow, it happens,” she said. “It really does. I can’t imagine—I couldn’t do it—but I can’t imagine how much joy it brings a teacher when a five or a six year-old kid learns how to read…and to know that you’ve been a part of that…it’s just a glorious thing no matter what age when kids get something. And it’s life changing sometimes.”
Her friends have influenced her in making the decision to retire, saying that she will know whenever it’s time to do so.
“And I just know,” said Hopson. “I stand in the hallway and hear kids use language that just…ahhhhh! I can’t do it anymore!” she laughed.
Aside from feeling more tired at the end of the day, something else that she finds a little discouraging is how those who are not educators make laws about education. They change the rules for standardized testing and how many a student is supposed to take even when they aren’t familiar with what goes on in an American classroom setting.
“It would be like me deciding how doctors ought to behave or setting a standard for attorneys—it’s not my area of expertise. Teachers don’t really have a place at the policy-making table, and I think that’s unfortunate.”
The changes that Hopson does applaud are the ones that are being made by Principal Donnie Bartlett. Being a new school, Timber Creek reasonably didn’t have a name on the map quite yet; it wasn’t clear if it was going to be the school that excels in academics, the one that has a dominating football team, or the one that has the most notable Fine Arts department. When Bartlett came into play, however, he forwarded his vision of making Timber Creek transcend in all aspects.
“His term is destination high school; he wants people to want to come to Timber Creek because we’re good at all kinds of things, not just one particular area,” she further explained. “He’s really created more of a sense of identity…maybe that’s what we were lacking. People go in all different directions before, and now we’re all starting to build that cohesive…and I will miss watching that continue.”
Before she retires, Hopson leaves a piece of advice along with the legacy that she’s made in this school.
“Remember that there’s always something new to learn,” she said. “If learning ever stops, we’d die as a civilization.”
Although amazed by the latest technology and how much the world has progressed as a whole just by exploring the endless possibilities, she still hopes that one day, everyone will learn the art of compromise.
“And yet, with all of those things that are better and faster and stronger, we still can’t seem to get along. We shoot each other and we say mean things on the internet about each other–we can’t seem to live in peace.”
Additionally, she mentions that peace is something that could be individually achieved.
“I’m at peace with this, this retirement thing. I think it’s gonna be great!”
Thank you, Arielle, and thanks to Timber Creek!