Student Life

Sidekick elects AP/IB English IV teacher Richard Orlopp as teacher of the issue

Tara Ansari, Staff Writer|October 27, 2017

AP/IB English III teacher Mr. Orlopp was named Teacher Of The Issue for Sidekick’s October edition. This is Orlopp’s second year at CHS.

Comical, kind and relatable are only a few adjectives which describe Coppell High School AP/IB English IV teacher Richard Orlopp’s devoting personality that elected him The Sidekick’s October Teacher of the Issue.

“I have always wanted to be a teacher since I always loved textbooks and helping people,” Orlopp said. “I had a lot of teachers who were influential, not only them teaching their subject to me but being a human and being there for me through some of my troubled teenage years.”

Orlopp’s students also see him as an engaging person whose class they look forward to going to.

“AP English isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but Mr. Orlopp makes me love it,” CHS senior Tyler Runnels said. “He is very funny and the activities he has planned for us makes me love and want to write, which is something I never used to be into doing.”

His love for literature influenced him to become an AP/IB teacher.

“The literature we do is super fun, but overall I just love the learners I get to teach since they are funny and bright and we get to laugh a lot in class while learning,” Orlopp said.

Along with his students, his co-workers also love Orlopp’s lively personality.

“I honestly don’t know how I would survive the past couple years without him,” IB English III teacher Stephanie Ball said. “He encourages me as a teacher and is very fun to be around. He is inspirational, and has enabled me to push myself as a teacher. He brings so much humor and energy to his classroom which I know the kids enjoy as much as I do.”

When asked about a historical figure he looks up to, he was quick to answer with Gandhi.

“I look up to Gandhi for a lot of reasons but mostly his compassion and activism,” Orlopp said. “He is the reason why I go around class and pick up everyone’s trash, he was someone who used to serve and take care of everyone who came to his house and I want to show that same care.”