By Aisha Espinosa
staff writer
@aishaespinosa1
After the original Richard J. Lee Elementary School closed to make way for New Tech High@Coppell, it was promised that another school would be also be dedicated to Mr. Richard J. Lee himself.
This new school holds the same name, but has a completely different design than traditional elementary schools. With its sleek, innovative design, the revamped Richard J. Lee Elementary is a school like no other in Coppell.
“The whole idea is just net zero,” said Tamerah Ringo, Coppell ISD director of communications and public relations. “They want to use only as much energy as they produce.”
Complete with the likes of a wind turbine, solar panels and rainwater collection systems, the school itself gives an eco-friendly vibe, with an outdoor learning center, eco pond and outdoor rainwater collection tanks.
The school, located near the Cypress Waters establishments, is also unique in its learning system. Teachers have been renamed as designers, and the entire building is, in a sense, an extension of the classroom.
“The fact that we are able to use the facility itself as tool to help our learners is amazing,” fifth grade designer Nick Coenraad said. “It’s just amazing.”
Monday marked the official “grand opening” of the school, as well as the official ribbon cutting. The ceremony included a dedication to Mr. Richard J. Lee, who attended with his family, and a talk from state representative Bennett Ratliff of Coppell.
The ribbon was cut by the first kindergartener to enroll at the school, and held by the other learners who had spoken on stage during the ceremony. After the ribbon cutting, the learners and their designers resumed classes, while guests were served cake and drinks in the library.
“I would teach here in a heartbeat,” said Tracey Wallace, Coppell ISD executive director of human resources. “The skills they are learning and teaching here, even at kindergarten and having them speak at the ceremony is great.”
Coppell ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip was also in attendance.
“The school is so innovative,” he said. “And [today’s] event was just so exciting.”
Even the learners could feel it. In an interview for a district video, one of the fourth grade students said that the ceremony was exciting for him and that he “was happy that [we] we got to see Mr. J. Lee because the school is named after him.”
