As a middle schooler in 2014, Mallory Sather’s voice echoed in the domes of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England, harmonizing with other members of the Amarillo Youth Choir.
For the Coppell High School U.S. history teacher, experiences traveling abroad cemented her love for the past.
“I was only 12 or 13, but I was in just the most immaculate places,” Sather said. “It’s different learning about history when you’re actually standing in a place where it happened compared to when you’re learning about it inside of the classroom.”
This year marks a new adventure. It is Sather’s first year teaching AP European history, taking the reins from Dan Gillette, who taught the class for almost a decade prior to retiring in 2025. Sather prepared by hanging posters of Napoleon and Queen Victoria, displaying her personal collection of history books and committing to creating lessons from scratch.
She connected with senior Anshika Arora in U.S. history, who took European history to have Sather for a second year.
“She deeply cares about what she does and how she does it,” Arora said. “You can tell by the way she teaches her class that she loves waking up and coming to school every morning. It truly inspires me.”
In the classroom, Sather prioritizes connection. She enjoys telling classes about her day, and hearing from students in return.
“I have had countless conversations with her,” Arora said. “She is so full of excitement and joy that make our environment so much better.”
Even her classroom has a story to tell, with photos adorning her walls showcasing what she loves, like travel and family.
Her sister, Maggie Sather-Welch, has watched her passion for history evolve in real-time. According to Sather-Welch the two girls caught the “travel bug” early on, influencing their relationship.
“Mallory has always been drawn to history, literature and the arts,” Sather-Welch said. “We were fortunate enough to travel to Europe several times together. We’ve always loved unique architecture, world-famous paintings, and seeing the locations you learn about in history books in real-life.”
From getting stuck in Portugal to historic castles in the foggy forests of Germany, Sather-Welch cherishes their shared experiences. While their day-to-day adventures look a bit different now, they maintain their bond.
“I am very proud of Mallory and all the hard work she dedicates to her job,” Sather-Welch said. “She always goes the extra mile and is rewarded with unique and challenging opportunities because of her hard work.”
Teaching history has also taught Sather a lot about herself.
“It’s helped me frame my outlook on life. In a way, I think it’s helped me mature, because when you look at the actions of others throughout hundreds of years, you start to recognize patterns in humanity,” Sather said.
Her desire for experiencing new cultures and ideas extends beyond her classroom. She is an avid reader, lover of music, enjoys going to concerts or events with friends, and prioritizes movement as the medicine of her life.
“Camaraderie and human connection are things that are really necessary for our happiness, just those calm times when we can slow down and enjoy life,” Sather said.
Sather embraces that she is still just beginning to find herself outside of her foundation-building career path.
“My first two years especially, I think I had to set boundaries for myself,” Sather said. “I had to focus on being Miss Sather Monday through Friday afternoon, then I’d cut myself off and say, ‘You’re not doing work. You’re going to enjoy being young, enjoy your life.’”
Her open honesty is why students walk into class not only ready for a history lesson, but ready to share a little bit of their worlds the same way she embraces her own.
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