Hudson Area Schools is proud to announce that Mrs. Rosanne Kopin has been approved as the new permanent elementary principal for Hudson Area Schools’ Lincoln Elementary. The action was taken at Hudson Area Schools’ regular board business meeting on Monday, May 16. Since November of 2021 Mrs. Kopin has served as interim principal. She has been a teacher at Hudson since 2015.
Mrs. Kopin grew up in Temperance, Michigan. After finishing college and getting married she moved to Colorado. They started a family there but were missing their extended family so they moved back to the Hudson area in 2013. Mrs. Kopin said, “I loved the small town lifestyle and knew we wanted to stay in the general area so we began looking closely at the small communities here. It became apparent that we wanted to settle in Hudson. There is just something special that sets this town apart, along with having great schools for our two children Nick (current senior) and Taylor (current 8th grade).”
Mrs. Kopin was hired at Lincoln in 2015. In 2018 she was elected the HEA (union) president. That role helped her to practice and build skills in leadership, communication, and problem solving. Most recently, Mrs. Kopin was teaching in the 5th grade. She said, “Being at the Middle School has been great because it gave me a broader perspective of our district. I think understanding the dynamics of both buildings will be very beneficial in developing greater unity between the buildings and among the district.”
Becoming a principal was not always a long-term goal for Mrs. Kopin. “It had been suggested before by colleagues, but my passion for being in the classroom, the sacrifices I may have to make when it came to family time, and the way it may change the dynamics of the relationships with my colleagues always led to the conclusion that it might not be a good path for me. However, as I continued to grow and gain more experiences professionally, I began to see ways I could be of service and feel fulfilled in that capacity. After Dr. Osborne and I had a few conversations, I agreed it would be something I would pursue if an opportunity came up within Hudson because Hudson is definitely my forever home personally and professionally.” said Mrs. Kopin.
Dr. Michael Osborne, Superintendent, said, “Mrs. Kopin has shown tremendous leadership skills as a teacher for the district and most recently in her role as Interim Principal. I have full confidence that her drive to succeed and her commitment to the students, staff and community will positively impact our district for many years to come. We are excited to officially place her in this position and I look forward to having her as a permanent addition to the administrative team here where she can help guide and lead our district to even greater successes.”
Mrs. Kopin stated, “This decision wasn’t made because I wanted to leave the classroom but because I know I will find ways to positively impact not just students, but staff and families as well. I hope to foster a culture where staff and students enjoy coming to work and school and to help people to feel empowered to equip kids to be successful socially, emotionally, and of course academically.”
School Board President Wesley Rowan stated, “Mrs. Kopin has already had a great influence on the culture at Hudson Area Schools. She has been involved in many areas as a parent, teacher and union president. Her ability to lead has continued to impress the Board and we anticipate that she will continue to flourish in this new role.”
Mrs. Kopin stated that she appreciated the opportunity to be the interim principal and it was a smart decision to not make this a permanent position at first so everyone could adjust to the sudden situation and determine if her being in the role of principal would be a good fit for both sides (Mrs. Kopin and the district). After several months of experience and input from staff, it made sense for her to apply for the permanent position. “I have learned a lot in the last several months. Being an administrator is an intense and dynamic job. I look forward to further developing my leadership skills and working with staff and families to maintain Hudson’s reputation as an outstanding school district and community.”
There will be a reception to welcome and congratulate Mrs. Kopin from 5:30 -6:00 p.m. prior to the next School Board meeting on Monday, June 13th in the MS/Jr/Sr HS Media Center. Parents, students, staff and community members are welcome to attend.