The 10th elementary school to be opened in Coppell ISD, Denton Creek Elementary School opened in 1997. Fifth grade teacher Kathy Struck has been teaching at the school for 25 years, and as much as the school has and will continue to change over the years, she has observed the traditions and values that remain central to the campus.
When did you start teaching at Denton Creek and why was the school established?
I joined in the fall of 2000, Denton Creek’s third year. At that time, we had a big growth surge, and this became the 10th elementary school to open in Coppell. The school was named after Denton Creek, which runs beside it.
How has the school changed in terms of architecture?
We have had some upgrades over the years. We got a new carpet approximately five years ago and fresh paint about ten years ago and have also got some new stage curtains. We are going to get another big refresh this summer and plan on having a theme of blue and green for our walls. As for the flooring, the hallways will be tiled and the classrooms will be carpeted.
What is your favorite part of this school?
My favorite part would be the people and administration. This is my 25th year and I have had four different principals. They have all been unique but very good in different ways. The parents in this community are also phenomenal. We have a lot of parent support this year especially, and it has been wonderful. They are very helpful and there is a lot of community spirit.
What is a tradition that remains unique to Denton Creek?
Since we are a dual-language campus, that brings us a lot of diversity and culture. We have been hosting Multicultural Night for 10 years and since we have a high Hispanic, Indian and Asian population, it is represented very well with the costumes, dance and food that is brought in. Different parts of the school have a different culture to show, with people dressed accordingly. Sometimes parents will come and cook some food unique to their culture, so you get to taste and see different kinds of cultures that make up the place.
What is a historical event that still takes place at Denton Creek?
We hold an event for fifth grade at the end of the year called Maypole, which takes place at the beginning of Field Day. This tradition came over 27 years ago from Pinkerton Elementary when [Pinkerton Elementary Principal Dr. Sharon Isbelle] came to open Denton Creek. There is a big, tall pole with a ribbon and the girls dance to the music and weave the ribbon, braiding it around the pole.
How have the ways students learn and are taught changed?
The increased use of technology in the classroom was more structured, and it was more teacher-oriented, whereas now it is more learner-oriented. Earlier, there were more pencils, papers and workbooks used. Now that students are exposed to technology, I feel like we can do so much more with the lesson because they can open their iPads and watch a video rather than us telling it. Technology makes learning more interactive now and helps them reinforce their learning skills.
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