Five Questions With: Lauren Hopkins

Lauren Hopkins, an English teacher and literacy specialist at Coventry High School and recent winner of the 2017 Milken Family Foundation Educator award for Rhode Island, has a knack for getting recalcitrant readers to love books. With her struggling learners, who typically lag two years or more behind their grade level in reading, Hopkins goes to great lengths to personalize her instruction by choosing texts that align with each student’s interests. Her approach yields significant gains and Coventry’s graduation rate has risen 12 percent during her tenure.

In her time at Coventry, she has helped align Coventry’s English and language arts curriculum to the Common Core standards, taught literacy courses sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers and presented to staff on literacy and technology. She mentors younger teachers and participates on the culture and climate committee, school improvement team, strategic planning committee and advisory committee. Hopkins has also coordinated the Gingerbread Express program, through which teachers provide holiday gifts for 60 of the school’s most in-need students.

PBN: How do you feel after being honored for your teaching accolades by the Milken Family Foundation?

HOPKINS: I feel incredibly honored to be recognized by an organization devoted to elevating education in America. I am blessed to work with talented, innovative and dynamic teachers and administrators each day and I appreciate the efforts of the Milken Family Foundation to validate and celebrate our profession.

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PBN: When did you first know you wanted to be a teacher and why was that?

HOPKINS: When I was in sixth grade, my teacher, Mrs. McCormick, showed me the impact a devoted educator can have on her students’ lives. While I had always loved reading and writing, I lacked confidence in my abilities.

In fear of giving the wrong answer, or sounding “stupid,” I hesitated to share in class. Mrs. McCormick took the time to speak with me privately, worked to build me up by celebrating my writing and taught me that my ideas matter. She helped me find my voice, thus inspiring me to help others find theirs.

PBN: Why are English and language arts critical parts of the curriculum, even in a 21st-century world dominated by technology?

HOPKINS: I would argue that English and language arts instruction are now more critical than ever. We live in a time where society is inundated with information through various forms of media. As educators, we have a responsibility to help kids process that information, weigh a source’s validity, learn how to interpret implications and form their own opinions as a result.

PBN: As a teacher, what is your mission in terms of helping students better understand and relate to the material you teach?

HOPKINS: In order to learn, students must be invested in the material. If I want my kids to care about “Romeo and Juliet,” I must make it relevant to their own lives. As we study the drama, I bring in contemporary songs to compliment the action; we discuss parental expectations and the pressure those can bring; we read a current young-adult literature text as a companion, and draw parallels between the two. Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet are no longer abstract characters in a drama – they become relatable teenagers fighting to be loved and understood.

PBN: What ways do you think public education in Rhode Island can improve and how do you suggest those improvements be made?

HOPKINS: I see this as an exciting time of change in Rhode Island public education. Statewide, districts are making efforts to strengthen early childhood education programs, improve college and career readiness, increase student access to Advanced Placement courses, integrate meaningful technology use into classroom instruction and provide personalized instruction to students across grade levels. While I recognize there is more work to be done, I am encouraged by the work we are doing right now.

Additionally, I see increased emphasis on social-emotional learning and educating the whole child. School can never replace a strong home environment, but we can make sure students have access to nutritious meals and a safe, nurturing learning environment led by caring adults. To build a stronger Rhode Island, we must invest in kids.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.