Stacy Hopkins has been named as the incoming Springdale Public Schools Chief Financial Officer.
Hopkins will take on the role following Kelly Hayes’ retirement this school year. Hayes currently serves as the district’s deputy superintendent of finance and administration.
“I am very thankful to Dr. Cleveland and the administration for the opportunity to become a part of the leadership team for Springdale School District,” Hopkins said.
Hopkins will transition from a district accountant position to the chief financial officer position, she said.
“Many times, I have wished that I had found this profession earlier in my career,” she said. “It has allowed me to use my talents to give back to my community by helping to ensure students receive a quality education and to provide the resources necessary for teachers to do what they do best and that is educate our children.”
Hopkins started her career in school finance in 2013 and began working with Springdale Schools nine months ago, she said. She’s worked as a certified public account for 31 years, with an emphasis in public accounting. Hopkins likewise served as the chief financial officer and business manager for Pangburn School District, an internal auditor for Worthen Banking Corporation and Deposit Guaranty Bank and has her own accounting business with offices in Monticello and Searcy.
Dr. Jared Cleveland, Springdale Public Schools superintendent, said Hopkins is a well-respected state leader in her field.
“Our leadership team and I have tremendous confidence in Ms. Hopkins,” Cleveland said. “I am grateful to Mr. Hayes for his efforts to secure such a qualified candidate as his successor.”
Hopkins has earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from the University of Louisiana Monroe and is currently pursuing a Master of Science Education with an emphasis in school business leadership from Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. She is likewise a certified public accountant, a certified Arkansas School Business Official and a certified school business administrator.
Hopkins hopes to continue the message that Springdale Public Schools is the example to be followed when it comes to deploying local tax dollars, as well as state and federal funding to the educational success of students.
“Mr. Kelly Hayes has set an extremely high standard and has strategically installed a finance team that I believe is the best in the state,” Hopkins said. “Dr. Cleveland and the leadership team are working diligently to address the upcoming changes that are being brought forward by the LEARNS Act, and I am excited to be a part of his team.”
Hopkins has a son who’s a freshman majoring in accounting at the University of Arkansas, she said.
She currently serves as the state director for the Southeastern Association of School Business Officials and as an Arkansas Association of School Business Officials board member, Hopkins said. She’s also a member of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators Facilities and Finance Legislative Committee.
“It is my hope the knowledge and relationships I have gained from participating in these groups will enable me to be a positive addition to the leadership team,” Hopkins said.