Timothy Hopper, Central Middle School

Position: Social Studies Teacher

Years Teaching: 10 years

Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with my family, playing with my children.

What do you enjoy most about teaching? I love the relationships I get to build with students. I get to talk with them, ask them how they are doing, check-in with them. I try to be the person I needed when I was their age.

What do you find the most challenging about teaching? There are a lot of withdrawals and not a lot of deposits. I had to learn to say "no" and take care of myself.

Best tip for new teachers: Find a mentor. A mentor is someone who sees more talent and ability within you, than you see in yourself, and then helps bring it all out of you.

Best tip for career teachers:Continue to improve. If you are not getting better, then you are getting behind.

Favorite piece of advice for students: Find an adult that believes in you! They have likely walked in your shoes before and can help you to navigate through life's most challenging moments.

What being a Gold Star Teacher means to you: Receiving the Gold Star Teacher Award has given me a moment of self-fulfillment. I truly believe I'm walking in the purpose God has for my life. I'm honored to have the opportunity to be a part of a young person's life story. This Gold Star Award also represents the legacy my mother started. My mother was a lifelong educator. She taught in the Waterloo Schools before eventually starting her own school for at-risk youth. She loved her community and understood teaching to be a part of her ministry. I can only imagine how proud she would be of me!