Two members of the Pioneer High School Class of 2026 will share the duties of student representatives to the Pioneer Board of Education.
Bailei Hopkins and Cora Hirsch will give reports from a student perspective during regular board meetings this year. They took their seats alongside board members at the Sept. 9 meeting.
The Board of Education had a regular student representative each year between 2010 and 2019. Michael Burgen was the first and Danielle Herrick did it most recently, in 2019.
Initially the student rep program was voluntary and seniors were nominated by the principal. Last year, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill making the student reps mandatory and it went into effect July 1, 2025.
Pioneer High School principal Joseph Cappadonia provided these brief bios of the new student representatives.
Cora Hirsch, a proud member of the Class of 2026, serves as the Class President, Student Government President, and President of the National Honor Society. Beyond her leadership roles, she is a dedicated athlete, competing on both the Varsity Soccer and Varsity Flag Football teams. Cora is also a member of the Academy of Finance, where she develops skills that connect academics with real-world opportunities. Outside of school, she gives back to her community by working as a lifeguard during the summer months. Cora is honored to serve as a Student Board Member and looks forward to representing her peers while continuing to promote student voice and leadership. She is the daughter of Robert and Carrie Hirsch of Arcade.
Bailei Hopkins is a dedicated leader and active member of the Class of 2026, currently serving as Class Vice President and Vice President of Student Government. She is a member of the National Honor Society and demonstrates her leadership on the field as captain of the Varsity Soccer and Varsity Basketball teams, as well as a Varsity Flag Football player. In addition to competing, she manages the responsibilities of Treasurer for both the soccer and basketball programs. Beyond athletics, Bailei is deeply involved in student activities as the Editor and President of the Yearbook Club, ensuring her peers’ high school experiences are remembered and celebrated. She also values giving back to her community—working as an intern at Delevan Elementary School with first graders during the school day and serving as a camp counselor at Hope Day Camp each summer. Bailei is passionate about leadership, teamwork, and service, and looks forward to continuing to contribute to her school and community. She is the daughter of Traci and Greg Hopkins of Chaffee.