Faculty Focus is a student life series, featuring a faculty member at Coppell High School, rotating by department, each week.
Coppell High School Student Services North receptionist Amy Praytor develops relationships with students and supports in any way she can. Praytor is a class of 1995 CHS graduate and approaches her job with the mindset of making students feel comfortable in her office.
What inspired you to become an educator?
I have a master’s in elementary education and I taught at Mockingbird Elementary School for two years until I started my family. Initially, I went into it because I grew up in Coppell and I loved a lot of my teachers and our community, and I wanted to be a part of that. So, after having my children get older, I was the owner for a small business, Gifted Sistas, where I made personalized gifts, clothing and home decor for 15 years and decided to not do that anymore and thought since my kids are in the school system, I’d get involved in that again, without necessarily looking to go back to the classroom. I had always volunteered as PTO room mom, so I like being in schools and that environment.
How would you describe your approach to working with students?
I enjoy the students a lot. That is probably the biggest draw for me, especially in this position – interacting with them. I think I have a pretty good rapport with a lot of students because I try not to take myself too seriously. I am a little more open-minded and I feel like they feel comfortable with me and they can talk to me because I will give them grown-up parental advice. Also, I am not their mom so I feel like they can tell me something, knowing I can’t ground them. We talk, we chat, students tell me about their weekend and they come to me about anything.
What’s a memorable moment from your time at CHS?
I had students who would come into my office when I was the attendance clerk last year and eat lunch with me every day. There, I made connections with the kids, but here I am a little more exposed and so, even during lunches, this office can be full of students, whether they are my office aides or not, especially at any given moment. We have kids who will come in here and they just prefer to be in here than out in the cafeteria as it can get loud. So, it is not necessarily a moment per se, but I love that kids are drawn to be comfortable here.
What do you love most about working at CHS?
What I love the most at CHS is Laura Springer, our principal. I graduated from CHS and she was a teacher when I was here but she has been the same incredible person from the first day I’ve ever met her. She just loves kids so much and wants what is best for her students, obviously education-wise, but also emotionally, physically and spiritually she wants your whole self to be invested. She does that for the students and teachers; she just makes you want to be here. Having that kind of leadership is why I love the kids so much because she just has such a passion that it is infectious. It makes you see students from a different perspective, even with my own kids. I remember I used to be this mom who was very stressed about GPA and future schooling, but I realized I just want my kids to be good people and it doesn’t mean you have to be at an Ivy League school to be a good person. I love the passion and love that she has for kids. When I considered going back to work outside of my house, the first thing I did was look on the CISD website if they had any high school spots open because I could not imagine working for somebody other than her. I always say that I am not going to leave my job until after she retires or when all my kids graduate, with my youngest being 10. I’m fortunate that this position doesn’t necessarily feel like work. I think it’s really more about creating those connections and relationships with the students.
What advice would you give to new staff members at CHS?
I would say drink the Kool-Aid, give in to the school spirit and get involved here. Ask the kids what they’re doing and what they’re involved in. Pick a kid in your class and buy their supporter T-shirt and show up to their event. You might look goofy but the kids love seeing that stuff. My position is a little different, so I don’t have to grade papers and I have the luxury of being able to be a little more fun and relaxed. If you invest in the school spirit and the environment of CHS, feeding off of Springer’s energy and getting to know the kids, it makes such a difference. Once a cowboy, always a cowboy. You come back and you see a lot of things change but some things haven’t; it’s fun to live and experience it.
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