Most students only see Ms. Hopkins when they’re in trouble or walking past her in the hall, but behind the title of Assistant Principal is a former competitive figure skater and first-place powerlifter who starts her day at 4:30 a.m. For Women’s History Month, I sat down with Ms. Hopkins to see how she manages a 19-hour workday while using her background in math and sports to keep Amityville Memorial High School running smoothly.
Her day starts with walking her dogs and making her children’s lunches before she even walks through the school doors, and it doesn’t end until she’s finished taking her own children to their sporting events late at night. Despite the hectic schedule, she truly loves working in Amityville and values the relationships she has built with the students and staff here.
One of the most important parts of her job is handling discipline and supporting teachers. When a conflict or bullying claim arises, she follows a specific process to ensure fairness. She starts by listening to the student who feels targeted, follows up with the other student involved, and then speaks with any adults who witnessed the event. She bases her final decisions strictly on the information collected and the Student Code of Conduct.
On the academic side, she supports teachers by observing classes and holding meetings to provide suggestions and feedback. She even uses moments when a teacher may be struggling as a “teaching moment” to help the entire staff grow. If she could change one thing, she said she would love to see students take more accountability for things like missing homework or talking back, as she values students who are aware of their own actions.
Ms. Hopkins wasn’t always an administrator; her journey began with a love for math. While attending Long Beach High School, her teacher, Mrs. Butler, noticed her gift for the subject. In fact, when a substitute teacher once struggled to lead the class, Ms. Hopkins stepped in and taught the lesson herself. Although she originally wanted to become a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Butler encouraged her to continue pursuing math.
Beyond academics, she was a well-rounded student who took auto shop to learn basic car maintenance and explored her creative side through photography and arts and crafts. Interestingly, if she weren’t working in education today, she believes she would be an event planner or working in a field involving math and data.
Getting to know her childhood reveals a lot about her competitive and determined spirit. Before becoming an assistant principal, she was a competitive figure skater and tennis player. In fifth grade in Brentwood, she was even the lead in the school play, which she remembers as a “big deal” because she got to skip class for a fancy lunch. She grew up watching TGIF classics like Full House and Family Matters, and her favorite childhood book was Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. A fun fact that many students may not know is that she competed in a powerlifting competition and took home first place.
At the end of our conversation, I asked what message she would give to her younger self. She said, “It’s okay to struggle, but how you deal with challenges will make you who you become in the future.” She also lives by the classic phrase, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”
Whether she’s lifting weights or helping students navigate high school, it’s clear that Ms. Hopkins is all about balance, hard work, and staying true to herself.
