Coppell Student Media

Teacher of the Issue: Chanin creating change by channeling cross-cultural connections

Anushree De, Features Editor • January 4, 2024

It’s 8:32 a.m. on a Thursday morning and Coppell High School history teacher Joshua Chanin wears a bright smile on his face. His room, adorned with vital aspects of his identity - a photo frame with Queen Elizabeth, a photo gallery of his students, a notable wall of the 46 U.S. presidents - has become an appendage of him. It is not always easy to know if a teacher enjoys their subject, but in the case of Chanin, it’s glaringly discernible.

Poskey's Picks by Coppell Student Media

Teacher of the Issue: Poskey finding parallels in life, teaching

Anushree De, Features Editor • November 2, 2023

In rural Tyler in East Texas, a young boy found pleasure in the simplicities of life. The scant population of the town meant that entertainment was found through hobbies like reading, the catalyst to the...

Teacher of the Issue: Deinhammer’s gap year decisions becomes lifelong

Iniya Nathan, Features Editor • May 19, 2023

Coppell High School Anatomy & Physiology teacher Jodie Deinhammer’s teaching career started because she held off going to medical school after completing her microbiology degree at TCU. “I did...

Teacher of the Issue: Holmes’s love for Spanish brings her into her teaching journey

Iniya Nathan, Features Editor • April 4, 2023

Coppell High School Spanish teacher Emily Holmes started her first year at Abilene Christian University with no idea what her future career path would look like. Starting as a psychology major without...

Teacher of the Issue: From traveling with Peace Corps to economic consulting, Dr. Johnson applies past experiences to teaching

Iniya Nathan, Features Editor • February 14, 2023

Most math classes do not include magic tricks interspersed between lessons, but Dr. Lowell Johnson’s AP Statistics classes have since he first became interested in magic three years ago. “I have...

Teacher of the Issue: Blake off to a quick-start in education, follows his childhood passion

Iniya Nathan, Student Life Editor • December 15, 2022

Coppell High School AP World History teacher Connor Blake knew he wanted to be a teacher from a young age. “I had a fantastic U.S. History teacher named Max Callahan, and he was a master storyteller,”...

Teacher of the Issue: Orlopp hops through jobs before finding his calling

Iniya Nathan, Student Life Editor • November 4, 2022

Coppell High School English teacher Richard Orlopp grew up wanting to be a superhero. His plan was to work out and get into peak physical condition like Batman before going out and solving crimes as a...

Teacher of the Issue: Crosby continues to call Coppell home

Iniya Nathan, Student Life Editor • October 3, 2022

Filled with a passion for chemistry, it took Coppell High School chemistry teacher Courtney Crosby longer to find her passion for teaching. A 2007 CHS graduate, Crosby graduated from Texas A&M with...

From statistics to the Olympics

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor • February 10, 2022

Don Kemp is The Sidekick’s February Teacher of the Issue, selected by the newspaper staff. Kemp is in his 17th year at Coppell High School and teaches AP statistics. Did you always want to be a...

Teacher of the Issue: Pearce pens dream job into real life

Anette Varghese, Student Life Editor • November 3, 2021

If you walked the upstairs C hall 20 years ago you would see the same face, the same AP English teacher teeming with love for her craft. Coppell High School AP English literature and composition...

Teacher of the Issue: Stricker instilling habits, values in his students

Manasa Mohan, Advertising and Circulation Manager • October 5, 2021

Coppell High School chemistry teacher, a former varsity girls soccer and boys varsity golf coach, Chris Stricker has been selected by The Sidekick as the October Teacher of the Issue. Having taught at...

Senior Teacher of the Issue: Bearden applying experience, artistic beliefs to teaching style

Shravya Mahesh, Entertainment Editor • May 15, 2020

Coppell High School Art I, Honors Art I and Sculpture II teacher David Bearden’s repertoire is not limited to paintings and sculptures. Strong artists, productive working environments and valuable life...