COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – Tim Hopkins ’83, ’85, ’00, a member of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees, was one of four S.C. school leaders recently selected by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA) as 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
Each year SCASA selects exemplars of educational leadership to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. These leaders have dedicated their lives to educating South Carolina’s children, serving their communities and providing an example for those who aspire to lead.
The other three educators honored at the association’s June 22 meeting in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, were: David O’Shields, superintendent of Laurens District 56; Kappy Steck, former principal of Forest Lake Elementary in Richland School District Two; and the Honorable Molly Spearman, South Carolina Superintendent of Education.
Hopkins, who is the deputy superintendent for Kershaw County Schools, has worked in education for 38 years. The Lugoff, South Carolina, resident serves on the Winthrop board as the designee for Governor Henry McMaster.
Upon completing his bachelor's degree at Winthrop, Hopkins worked for the institution recruiting new students throughout the southeastern United States. He later transitioned to the public education system as a guidance counselor, assistant administrator, assistant principal and principal before serving as a district administrator in the Kershaw County School District — providing instrumental support as federal programs director, executive director of instruction and his current role of deputy superintendent.
During his time in the district, Hopkins has made many positive impacts which include expanding the district’s early childhood development programs by increasing the number of three- and four-year-old classrooms, expanding and providing services to English Language Learners, and implementing and supervising the district’s school choice program. Under his supervision, three middle schools were named “Schools to Watch,” and three district schools were named Palmetto’s Finest schools.
He has been an active member of SCASA for many years and participates in the Grant and Federal Programs, Personnel, and Instructional Leaders’ Roundtables.
For more information, contact April Griffin of SCASA at 803/798-8380 or april@scasa.org.
