New AP’s at CHS: Feature
Laura Kattilakoski and Rowan Khazendar
Staff writers
Coppell High School has a long tradition of excellence. This year, new assistant principals have
joined the cowboys’ community and are excited to make their mark on CHS.
With a school as big as CHS, one principal alone cannot handle everything. For this reason,
assistant principals work with just about every aspect of the school.
So what does an assistant principal do? The one word every administrator seems to use is
‘everything’. From working with the teachers to student’s discipline issues, they influence and impact
just about every student at CHS, whether the students realize it or not.
“Our job includes everything. I work with teachers, work with kids and discipline, and meet with
parents,” Anne Beckman said.
“We all have certain parts of the alphabet, which includes about 500 kids each. I deal with
discipline, substitutes, and arranging SPUR,” Michelle Kellen said.
These new administrators come from several different backgrounds.
Mrs. Beckman taught for 16 years as a math teacher in elementary school. She has also been an
assistant principal for three years.
“I worked at an elementary school and when I was a principal during summer school. I was
asked if I wanted to teach at CHS and I wanted to teach here because it was a great school,” said
Beckman.
“I’ve been in the classroom for some time and I wanted to continue my education and get my
masters to become an Administrator,” Beckman added.
Mrs. Kellen, on the other hand, has taught at Colleyville heritage for 13 years as a basket ball
coach. She also worked for two years as an intern for experience. On top of all that she has taught AP
Psychology for the last seven years.
“I came to CHS because I was hired and offered the job, especially because of good reputation of
the school and good experiences when I came here to coach,” Mrs. Kellen.
“Being a CV Intern allowed me to affect more kids, not just 100 but a whole school to impact,”
Mrs. Kellen said.
For one of the new administrators in particular, the leap from their previous position into their
new administrator’s position has been difficult. Deana Harrell, new associate principal at CHS, has
previously taught and administered at elementary schools.
“[The children] are fun, they’re so excited about learning, everything is magical. There’s that
innocence about childhood, there’s that enthusiasm of learning, wanting to just hit the ground running
all the time. Plus they say some really funny things,” Deana Harrell said.
Moving on to teaching at the high school has, as Harrell said, allowed her to see the educational
skills taught to children in elementary schools in action and being applied to real world situations.
“As administrators even at the elementary level, we know we’re preparing students to get
here… but to actually be here and again to go back to no matter what choices you make at Coppell high
school, you are involved and engaged, whether it’s learning or some other extracurricular,” Harrell said.
Other administrators, such as Mrs. Beckman, agreed.
“The kids definitely the high school kids are so fun and creative and it’s just great getting to
know you guys,” Beckman said.
“My favorite part is definitely the people, the kids and teachers and administrators. Everyone is
so friendly and helpful,” Kellen agreed.
So there is one thing all the administrators seem to agree on… the greatest part about Coppell
High School is the great people!