Morgan County Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. teaches a World History class at Lacey’s Spring. | Randy Garrison

Randy Garrison

Hartselle Enquirer

Morgan County Superintendent Bill Hopkins Jr. decided he wanted to teach a class in the county school system. Hopkins preferred to teach a history class. He sent out an email informing his principals about this plan. He had decided that whoever responded to his email first would be the winner, so to speak.

The first principal to respond was Houston Blackwood of Lacey’s Spring School. The date was set for Jan. 19 and he would be teaching Stephanie Cagle’s seventh grade world history class.

When asked why he wanted to do this, Hopkins replied “ this will keep me from losing touch with the classroom.” Once you move into administration you lose that contact with the students. Hopkins also mentioned that he would like to do this every couple of months. He has also challenged his directors to consider teaching a class on a regular basis as well.

Hopkins taught seventh grade history for 12 years. He mentioned that it had also been 12 years since he had taught in a classroom.

Cagle was on board with the request, agreeing to have Hopkins teach one of her social studies classes and even came to the central office to meet with the superintendent so that he would be familiar with the area the class was studying.

Before going into the classroom, Hopkins mentioned that he was a little nervous and had spent a lot of time preparing the lesson he would teach the world history class.

Principal Houston Blackwood introduced Hopkins to the class and explained what he wanted to do. When the superintendent  asked the class of seventh graders what they thought the job of superintendent was, Justice Robinson answered, “You are the boss of all the teachers and principals.”

Hopkins explained that his job as superintendent of schools was to make sure everyone gets the best education that you can receive.

It did not take long for old habits to kick in and Hopkins was soon comfortably moving through his lesson plan to students at Lacey’s Spring School.