On Nov. 15, 10 Coppell High School teachers’ afternoons were brightened as CHS Principal Dr. Nicole Jund and assistant principal Ryan Lam burst into their rooms with the announcement he or she had been nominated to be Teacher of the Year.

CHS teachers John Watkins, Malloy Phillips, Michael Brock, Melissa Alexander-Blythe, Kristen Davis, Melissa Murray, Evan Whitfield, Cameron Tiede, Don Kemp and Angela Barnes were nominated.

“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Barnes said. “The best part is I didn’t know how to react so I teared up, and my kids gave me a big group hug.”

In October, CHS teachers were given nomination forms. Teachers were selected based off criteria such as their classroom environment and their curriculum design.

“[Another thing we judge is] whether learners can really grasp the concepts being taught,” Lam said.

While Barnes has never been nominated before, other teachers, such as CHS AP statistics teacher Don Kemp, have been several times.

“I’ve gone through this before, but haven’t won,” Kemp said. “I’m excited, but shocked. This time I didn’t expect it at all.”

Over Thanksgiving break, Jund will email CHS families a list of all teachers who were nominated. On Nov. 28, the winner will be announced in the CHS arena during a faculty meeting.