![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
After singing an outstanding performance of the national anthem at a Texas Rangers game, Taylor Smith-Bothun prepares for a new week as the new associate principal of Coppell High School.
Smith-Bothun has an extensive background in education as an assistant principal at Coppell Middle School West since 2022, a Spanish teacher in Eden Prairie Schools in Minnesota and a digital learning coach in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD.
Smith-Bothun studied at Bethel University in Saint Paul, Minn, obtaining a double major degree in K-12 Spanish education and vocal performance. With a master’s degree in educational leadership at Minnesota State University and a principal certification at the University of North Texas, Smith-Bothun is ready for his new position.
“I was compelled to CISD because it’s just an incredible district,” Smith-Bothun said. “I’ve been in four different districts throughout my career and this is the most positive, encouraging and successful district I have ever seen where there’s real collaboration between teachers, administration and district leadership. I really feel like we’re all cohesively working together to do what’s best for kids.”
Coppell High School Principal Laura Springer is intrigued by Smith-Bothun’s charismatic personality.
“[Smith-Bothun] is young, excited and full of life,” Springer said. “He’s very knowledgeable about the curriculum and wants kids to be successful. He’s somebody that I think will eventually want to become a principal, so I want to show him what I think is important for that role.”
Smith-Bothun found a love for learning and speaking Spanish, now fluent in the language.
“I started [learning the language] in middle school and loved it,” Smith-Bothun said. “I was not good at it at first, but I had really great teachers that made me fall in love with the language as I progressed to my senior year. I also lived abroad in Spain for a year when I was in college and that was really where [the language] cemented for me.”
Smith-Bothun holds an advantage in communicating with non-English speakers within the school.
“It’s important that we have representation for students to be able to speak their heart language,” Smith-Bothun said. “Being able to communicate with our students and families, who are first Spanish speakers, provides a safe space for them to be able to express themselves authentically and to have somebody that can hear them speaking from their heart.”
Originally from Minnesota, Smith-Bothun was drawn to Texas because of his husband, Hudson Smith-Bothun.
“My husband is actually from Waxahachie, Texas,” Smith-Bothun said. “He moved up to Minnesota and we met there. We’ve been married six years; I always knew that he wanted to come back to Texas and I was open to a change.”
With a major in music and vocal performance, Smith-Bothun is a regular singer for the Rangers.
“I started singing when I was in Minnesota for the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Lynx,” Smith-Bothun said. “Then, they put me in contact with the folks at the Rangers and I actually was just asked a couple days ago to sing the anthem on Sept. 21 – it will be my 12th anthem with them.”
Prior to his commitment to education, Smith-Bothun spent his time performing in large musical productions.
”I used to do a lot more performances in fully staged operas and musical theaters,” Smith-Bothun said. “As I stepped into administration, the time to do those full stage productions has now been devoted to the school, so one outlet I still have is performing in my church choir every Wednesday and Sunday.”
CHS staff members have gotten to know Smith-Bothun personally, captivated by his alluring and inspiring character.
“I think he is going to do a wonderful job throughout the year,” data and administrative support specialist Erin Kelly said. “He has such a large personality and he could be so silly but the second that something gets serious, he gets right into ‘associate principal mode’ and is ready to solve problems.”
Smith-Bothun is thrilled to lead this school year, hoping to connect with students.
“Right now, I’m doing a lot with clubs and it’s been great learning more about the passions that our students have and the things that they want to champion and support,” Smith-Bothun said. “I’m excited to continue to build those relationships and get to know the incredible students that make this school what it is.”
This story was originally published on Coppell Student Media on September 20, 2024.