Standout Spartan: Mary Hopkins

(photo by Kamran Mohanty '26) 

Congratulations to Middle School English Teacher Mary Hopkins, who is the author of a poem published in a new book. The poem, “Circe,” is included in “Gathering (A Poetry Anthology by Poets Anonymous).” There are roughly 50 poems in the book, each by a different author.

“The poem was inspired by Taylor Swift, Barbie, Beyoncé, and the summer of Girl Power,” explained Ms. Hopkins, who has been writing poetry “as long as I can remember.” This is the first time she has been published outside of a school. At an August book launch party and reading in Fairfax, Va., Ms. Hopkins and several of the other anthology authors were invited to read their poems. “It was great being with other people who love poetry as much as I do,” she said. “There were wonderfully accomplished poets and teachers there.”

At Steward, Ms. Hopkins serves as the advisor to the Writing Club. “I am constantly encouraging students to share their work through contests or publications, so I figured I should take my own advice and submit something of my own,” she noted. “I love that Steward encourages me to pursue my passions and that there are lots of students willing to come on the journey with me. I workshopped my poem with three current Steward students who gave me really good advice and suggestions.”