9/11, the addition of the D Hall on campus, the great blizzard of 2010 and Sonic Road being built. Thirty-year Coppell High School AP United States teacher and veteran Kevin Casey has seen it all.
From the day he entered CHS, to the day he caught a student with a live duck in his coat pocket, to running the National Honor Society and all the conversations in between, Casey is the perfect person to associate with CHS.
“Coppell High School is a strange and wonderful place and I have been lucky enough to work here for 28 years,” Casey said. “This is the job I always wanted to do. Working with young people and focusing on American history has been a great career.”
Casey’s impact on the school has been extensive. Being with CHS for 28 years of his 30 years teaching, Casey has become one of the leaders of the building.
“He holds the line, the standard,” CHS Principal Laura Springer said. “One of the things that I admire about him the most is his directness and ability not to waver when a student is coming to him asking about why they weren’t inducted into NHS and holds the integrity and honor in the building.”
According to Springer, he is leaving behind some hard shoes to fill regarding AP United States History and NHS.
“I know I have to step up as a mentor now that Mr. Casey is retiring,” CHS AP United States History teacher Joshua Chanin said. “The way he ran the Society and made sure everyone was kept to a certain standard is what I loved about him.”
His impact teaching not only students, but teachers as well was very important.
“He taught me so much regarding how to handle students like when they are crying,” Chanin said. “When we would talk about school, the conversation would often drift to sports, politics and history in general.”
Casey was here in 1996 when the student population was less than 2,000 for all four grade levels at CHS. In comparison, the current student population is closing in on 3,000 for three grade levels.
“The way Coppell has grown is truly astounding to me,” Casey said. “New families, students, the community growing and the opportunity to teach more and more students is what I love and what I am passionate about.”
Running retirement begins in June. Casey is ready to finally hang up his hat.
“I am looking forward to an endless summer this summer,” Casey said. “I know it will feel funny when school begins in August, and I go on vacation instead of coming to CHS. I’m ready to take a fall vacation.” Casey said.
Aside from traveling, Casey is not sure what his plans will be.
“My wife Angie Casey retired a few years ago, so she has plans to keep me busy,” Casey said. “I know I will need a schedule to get things done around the house, and I know I can’t just play golf each day.”
Besides golf and helping around the house, he is looking forward to a little yard work and a little bit of wrangling his grandchildren who live in Irving.
As far as school goes, the name Kevin Casey will be a classic for decades to come.
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