Rye High School’s Karen Hopkins received the Distinguished Service to Education Award (DESA) for the district during the President’s Blue & Red Gala at Colorado State University-Pueblo. During the event, on the evening of Saturday, May 21, Hopkins made her way to the stage to “accept the award on behalf of all the great educators here at Pueblo County School District 70”, as her uplifting acceptance speech stated.
Each year the DESA is awarded to an individual who celebrates individuals and who has demonstrated dedicated advocacy on behalf of children, greatly improving the lives of the children and youth of their school and their community.
It was noted at the gala that the educators of Pueblo School District 70 have made extraordinary commitments and dedicated their talents, energy, and resources to address the needs of students and families in the community in the days, weeks, and months following the March 2020 COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. This dedication ensured students received exemplary educational instruction during an unprecedented time in our history. District 70 has recently grown considerably. Over the past 17 years, District 70 has grown from 7000 to 11000 students.
Hopkins began her teaching career in 1985 and went on to teach a variety of subjects before returning to teach high school English in 2021.
She represents all of District 70, well known for going above and beyond for their students.