Hope Public Schools Co-Activities Director Susan Powers has been named Arkansas Activities Association Conference 7-4A AD of the Year. – Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools

HOPE – The athletics directors of Arkansas Activities Association Conference 7-4A have named Hope Public Schools Co-Activities Director Susan Powers as Athletic Director of the Year.

“It is very humbling and an honor being named Conference 7-4A AD of the year,” Powers said after the announcement Feb. 24. “I would like to thank all the Conference 7-4A ADs for voting for me because they are all worthy themselves. I have enjoyed working with each of them over the past several years.”

Powers was named co-activities director in 2017, and she has taught in the Hope Public Schools for 35 years. She is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway with both BSE and MSE degrees in physical education.

HPS Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart said Powers has been genuinely dedicated to public education in Hope.

“Susan has dedicated her entire career to the Hope Public Schools and to the students and staff in our district,” Dr. Hart said. “She is deserving of this recognition and we are grateful for her presence and efforts.”

As Co-AD with Bobcat Head Football Coach Phillip Turner, Powers is responsible for the coordination of all campus life activities across the six campuses of the HPS during the fall semester. Those responsibilities shift to Turner in the spring semester when Powers takes on duties as Ladycat Head Basketball Coach.

“I would also like to thank Bobcat Co-AD Phillip Turner for nominating me,” Powers said. “He is a true friend and a wonderful colleague.”

Powers was named Hope Rotary Club Secondary Education Teacher of the Year in 2017.

Rotarians recognized Powers for her attention to both the academic and extracurricular activities of her students and the high standards Powers has set for student athletes, as well as her role in teaching Adaptive PE in the Special Education Program of the HPS.