Holly Hopkins — Bellefonte School District
This installment of our series of interviews with school director candidates across Pennsylvania brings us to the Bellefonte School District.
Holly Hopkins is running for school director in the Bellefonte School District, located in Centre County. She is a registered Republican and works as a dental hygienist.
Why are you running for school board?
I hope to advocate for all children by promoting an engaging and safe learning environment, ensuring district resources are allocated wisely, and fostering school spirit and pride in the community that I love!
What are the most important issues facing your district?
Currently our district is prioritizing building a new elementary school that will be state of the art and secure while not overburdening our taxpayers. As a parent and board member, safety is my number one priority; whether it be focusing on active threats, or handling violence, bullying and peer pressures. A quality education is everything but means nothing if the children aren’t in a safe environment.
What is your professional background/experience? What skills would you bring to the board?
I have worked as a dental hygienist in Bellefonte for sixteen years. Every day I build trust and rapport with my patients, especially children, and I feel that connects me to the community in a unique way. I research and write about our local history, hoping to get the future generations interested in their past. I am ethical, enthusiastic, and tirelessly dedicated!
Have you run for political office previously? Have you been politically active?
No, this is my first time forming a committee and campaigning. I always vote, stay up to date on current events and attend political rallies and marches that align with my beliefs.
Are you running with other candidates?
No.
What is the most important role of the school board in your opinion?
I believe being transparent and keeping our students at the center of every policy and decision that we make is what’s most important.
Please list any campaign websites and social media sites.
We contacted the Democratic and Republican committees in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, and Montgomery counties and asked them to share the questions with their school director candidates. Broad + Liberty will post the responses throughout the summer to assist voters in learning about the candidates running in their district. The series is open to any school director on the ballot in November. Please contact barosica@broadandliberty.com for more information.
