When asked why Coppell ISD was a place where prospective teachers wanted to work, most, if not all responses centered around one thing. Coppell ISD’s core values.  

“I’m just in love with the whole family aspect of Coppell, even though it is a big district it feels kind of small,” high school science teacher applicant Brooke Daniel said. “[CISD] is really focused on intentional relationships. You want every student to succeed and it just seems very authentic. That’s the feeling I get.”

On Saturday, hallways typically occupied by students at Coppell Middle School West were filled with teachers applying for positions within CISD for the next school year. Upon arrival applicants were given maps of the school and greeted by a booth that helped guide teachers to different classrooms where they could interview for a multitude of positions for all grade levels with current staff of CISD. National Honor Society and Red Jacket members stood in various areas to direct teachers. 

If an applicant stood out during an interview, interviewers would be able to offer a “golden ticket” or letter of intent to them. The applicant would then be guided to the CMSW library, where they could speak with a final panel and have their photo taken in front of a CISD media wall. 

“When I’m looking for people to come into our building, I’m looking for people who are going to love [students],” CHS Principal Laura Springer said. “They’re going to be people who are difference makers in teenager’s lives, who can understand that teenagers are sometimes broken. We need people I hire to motivate you and be role models for you and people who will make students want to be better people when they walk out of our building and have a great future.” 

One of those people was Joshua Henderson, who was given the “golden ticket” on Saturday. Henderson will be joining the CHS staff next year as a forensic science teacher for grades 11-12.  

“I was doing my research on Coppell ISD and one thing I noticed is that 93 percent of the schools are considered above average,” Henderson said. “That told me that Coppell ISD holds themselves to a very high expectation and that’s definitely something I feel we have in common.” 

According to CHS English department chair Alex Holmes, there was a diverse split between younger teachers fresh out of college and experienced applicants who are either coming out of the business field and into teaching, or people who’ve been on the periphery of teaching. 

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