21 Years of Care and Connection: Celebrating Corky Hawkins, Elementary School Counsellor

Corky Hawkins has spent more than twenty years at the heart of the ISP community. As she prepares to move on after 21 years, she leaves behind a legacy of care that has guided generations of students, families, and colleagues throughout the school. Through each chapter, she experienced the school from different perspectives while remaining rooted in the same community that first welcomed her 21 years ago.

Corky first arrived in Prague from Tanzania with her three children making Prague home for her and her family. She began her journey as a Grade 2 classroom teacher and after one year in the classroom, she stepped into a leadership role as Elementary Assistant Principal. After ten years, Corky transitioned into Counselling, where she spent another decade supporting students and families.

Having the opportunity to serve in many different roles within one school is rare, especially in international education. For Corky, it became one of the most meaningful parts of her career. Over the years, ISP has grown and changed in many ways. Buildings expanded, programs evolved, and leadership teams shifted. Yet one thing, in Corky’s eyes, always remained constant: the care and commitment of the people within the community.

That sense of continuity is something she helped nurture throughout her time at ISP. Today, she has begun to see children of ISP Alumni walking through the same hallways where their parents once learned. This year alone, many graduating seniors first began their journeys in ISP Elementary classrooms during Corky’s time at ISP.

Those long-standing relationships became one of the defining parts of her experience. Across two decades, Corky built deep connections with students, families, and colleagues; relationships grounded in trust, care, and a shared sense of belonging.

“Being part of this community and working with children every day has been such a gift. There is something really special about growing alongside a community for so many years. I feel deeply grateful for the relationships I have built here and for the sense of community that has remained constant over the years.”

Corky Hawkins, Elementary School Counsellor

As Elementary Assistant Principal, Corky played a meaningful role in nurturing the growth of the Early Childhood Foundations programme. Working closely alongside Elementary Principal, Cindy Vega, she had the privilege of supporting teacher aides and students from ECF 3 through Grade 2, helping to shape a caring and joyful learning environment where young learners could thrive.

Later, as a Counsellor, Corky found another deeply fulfilling path. Her work focused on helping students overcome social and emotional barriers to learning and ensuring every child felt supported, understood, and able to thrive. Working closely with teachers, specialists, administrators, and families, she became an important source of encouragement and stability for countless students over the years. During her years as a Counsellor, Corky also brought her love of music and drama into the Elementary musical productions, helping create joyful opportunities for students to build confidence, express themselves, and shine on stage.

Also during her time as Counsellor, Corky introduced ISP’s first emotional support dog program with Earl, a Jack Russell Terrier who quickly became beloved within the community. That early initiative helped pave the way for the support animals students know today.

Throughout her 38 years in education, children have remained at the center of Corky’s life and purpose. Even now, after nearly four decades in schools, she speaks about students with the same warmth and joy that first brought her into education.

“I will deeply miss being with children every day. I am profoundly grateful to ISP for the many opportunities it has given me over the years to work alongside students who bring so much joy, energy, and meaning to my life and to each day.”

Corky Hawkins, Elementary School Counsellor

Her story is woven into the fabric of ISP itself. Through the students she supported, the families she guided, the colleagues she worked beside, and the sense of care and belonging, she helped create the ISP community.

We are deeply grateful to Corky for the compassion, care, and heart she has shared with the ISP community over the past 21 years. The relationships she built and the countless lives she touched will continue to be felt for many years to come, and we wish her nothing but joy and happiness in this next chapter.