Stephanie Hopkins has been elected as the new Idaho Education Association (IEA) Board representative for Region 8. She fills a seat left vacant by Alicia Purdy, who was also from the Vallivue Education Association.
Region 8 covers the far southwestern part of Idaho. In the special election, Hopkins ran against Joy Weisel from the Caldwell Education Association and received 56.6% of the vote. John Stamper from the Nampa Education Association also participated and received one vote.
Hopkins will serve on the IEA Board for one year to complete Purdy’s term. The position will be up for re-election in spring 2026.
Hopkins works as a special education resource educator and began her career in 2006 as a paraprofessional. She has held several union leadership roles and is a member of the VEA Back-to-School Committee, which won the Betty Roper Public Relations Award in 2025.
