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Dr. Gabriel Zaragoza

Principal

Dr. Zaragoza was appointed as principal of Hopkins Elementary on September 19, 2019.  Dr. Zaragoza received a bachelor's degree in International Affairs from the University of Georgia, a Master's degree in Urban Teacher Leadership from Georgia State University, and a Specialist's degree in Educational Leadership from Kennesaw State University. In the spring of 2023, Dr. Zaragoza completed his PhD program at Mercer University and received his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership.

He has held numerous positions in the education field in the metro Atlanta area. From 2010 to 2012, he was a member of Teach for America. Then he was a bilingual teacher and administrator at Clayton County's Unidos Dual Language Charter School until accepting his job as an assistant principal at Baldwin Elementary in 2016 in Gwinnett County Public Schools in the Norcross Cluster.

As principal of Hopkins Elementary, Dr. Zaragoza places a strong emphasis on academics, while using his skills and expertise to support students, families, school staff, and the community. 

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Mrs. Jacqueline Graham

Assistant Principal

Jackie Graham has served as a GCPS Elementary School Assistant Principal at Hopkins Elementary for 17 years, and a Middle School Assistant Principal in NY for 3 years. She taught self-contained special education for 3 years and interrelated resource for 8 years in New York State. Upon moving to Gwinnett, Mrs. Graham taught interrelated resource at Arcado Elementary for 1 year, before coming to Hopkins as an Assistant Principal. Mrs. Graham holds a Bachelor's Degree in English and Secondary Education from the State University of NY, a Master's Degree in Special Education from the State University of NY, an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont University, and School Leadership Certification from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Mrs. Graham and her husband are the proud parents of 3 GCPS graduates, who are now college graduates. Mrs. Graham is passionate about literacy, equity, and diversity. She aims to build positive relationships with all stakeholders and provide rigorous, quality learning experiences for all students. When not working, Jackie enjoys reading, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends. 

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Ms. Lisa Bevens

Assistant Principal

Lisa Bevens has spent her entire teaching career within Gwinnett County Schools. She has taught 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades, K-5 Interrelated Resource, and supported K-5 students and teachers as an RTI/SST Coordinator and a Local School Technology Coordinator. She spent time in the Meadowcreek, Berkmar and Collins Hill clusters before coming to Hopkins in Fall 2020 as an Assistant Principal. She is thrilled to be back in the Berkmar Cluster and is looking forward to getting to know Hopkins students and families better throughout the upcoming years!  

Ms. Bevens received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with an ESOL Endorsement from Toccoa Falls College; her master's degree in Elementary Reading and Math from Walden University; an Educational Specialist’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Kennesaw State University and an Educational Leadership certificate from University of West Georgia.

Ms. Bevens and her husband have 3 children, whom they call “The Heroes”. Her two older children attend Hopkins and her youngest can’t wait to join them in a few short years! She loves to read, experiment with recipes in her kitchen, travel to new places, watch movies, embarrass her children, and spend time with her family and friends.  

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Dr. Melissa Cable

Assistant Principal

Melissa Cable began her career in GCPS in the Berkmar Cluster where she taught third grade, ESOL, EIP, and Interrelated Resource.  She then transferred to Hall County Schools where she taught Interrelated Resource for K-5 and served as grade chair for special education.  Dr. Cable came back home to GCPS in 2017 to Hopkins Elementary.  At Hopkins, she has taught ESOL, EIP, and Interrelated Resource, and held many leadership roles; before becoming an instructional coach in 2020.  Dr. Cable is passionate about building relationships with students and families to meet each student's learning ability and interest level through an educationally challenging environment.   She is excited to continue in the Hopkins community as an assistant principal! 
 
Dr. Cable received her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Special Education with a reading and math endorsement from the University of North Georgia; her master's degree in Early Childhood Education with an ESOL endorsement from Kennesaw State University; Education Specialist in Teacher Leadership from Piedmont College; Educational Leadership from the University of North Georgia; and doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College.
 
Dr. Cable and her husband have 2 children.  She loves to read, go camping, watch movies, and spend quality time with family and friends.

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Mr. Yerisson Cardenas

Assistant Principal

Yerisson Cardenas began his career through Teach for America serving in a Dual Language Immersion setting teaching middle school science in Clayton County. Mr. Cardenas continued working with middle school students in Hall County from the same school he graduated from as a seventh-grade science teacher. Since then, Mr. Cardenas has worked at a K-8 STEM Charter school in Fulton County where he served as an 8th-grade science teacher, STEM Teacher, and eventually the K-8 STEM Director. As the STEM Director Mr. Cardenas was able to support multiple teams to different State Finals competition in Science Fair, Engineering Fair, and the GA Tech K12 Inventure Prize.

Mr. Cardenas has been passionate about STEM and ensuring that all students have an equitable access to STEM opportunities to better prepare them for an ever-changing world. Mr. Cardenas received his Bachelors in Science with an Information Systems Engineering Degree from Johnson C. Smith University, an HBCU in Charlotte, NC and his M.Ed. from American University in Education Policy and Leadership.

Mr. Cardenas is husband and father to a beautiful family and is excited to be joining Hopkins Elementary School as the new assistant principal.