One of the new faces Four Peaks Elementary School and Fountain Hills Middle School students are sure to see around campus this year is the new Dean of Students, Heidi Hopman.

Just last week, Hopman was busy with meetings and getting to know her new colleagues in preparation for the start of the 2015-16 academic year.

Her office was already decorated though, thanks to a bit of artistic help from her own son and daughter. She also happens to have a giant yellow Minion on hand, though he didn’t seem to be too busy.

Working in education for the past 16 years, Hopman started her career as a fourth grade teacher in the Alhambra School District.

After seven years in that initial position, Hopman moved on to the Dysart district, followed by Washington and Pendergast, where she served as a third grade teacher and district mentor.

When asked when she decided to get into the field, Hopman said she always knew education was for her, starting with her days of playing teacher as a little girl.

“I knew from the get-go,” Hopman said.

“My dad is a restaurant owner, so he wanted one of his children to follow in those footsteps. So I decided during my first couple years of college I would take those classes.”

Hopman said she quickly realized that the restaurant field was not for her and transitioned into her first passion, teaching.

“I was up at [Northern Arizona University], I did a lot of internships up there and I just fell in love with teaching,” she continued.

“So I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Over the past 16 years, Hopman said she’s become more interested in administration by watching those she worked with in her previous districts.

“I love being in the classroom and working with the kids,” she said.

“But as an administrator, I love that you not only get to work with the kids, but you also get to work with the teachers who also get to work with the kids.”

After her first seven years in education, Hopman had received her Master’s and was working for principal that she greatly admired.

“That was the person who made me say, I want to be like you,” she added.

“When I saw the posting in Fountain Hills for a dean of students, I thought I should give it a shot.”

Hopman said they already had friends in the area who spoke highly of the community. After doing her own research, she decided it was a place she’d like to work.

“It’s a great community,” Hopman said.

“Since I’ve been here, everyone’s been really friendly and I’ve loved the kids I’ve met so far, as well as the parents and the teachers. It’s been good.”

As dean of students and a teacher on special assignments, Hopman boiled her position down to “basically the assistant principal.”

“I’m in charge of the students while [Principal] Anita [Gomez] is in charge of the teachers,” she continued.

“Right now I’m building schedules and answering questions for teachers. I’ll be handling discipline and I’ll also be going out into the classroom to assist with instruction.”

In short, Hopman said her job will be “making sure we’re giving students the best education they can have.”

“The family atmosphere here has been wonderful,” Hopman said.

“It doesn’t feel like I’ve been here for two weeks. Everyone’s been nice and very supportive.”

As for the coming months, Hopman said she’s excited to get to work.

“I’m just looking forward to getting started,” Hopman said.

“I always tell people I hate being alone in a classroom. It’s like a ghost town. I’m looking forward to having that buzz in the air and the life that the kids will bring.

“I have an open door policy, so I invite everyone to come in and chitchat if they’d like. First and foremost, I’m here for their child.”