The sound of ringing phones and frantic voices once filled her day; every second was precious. Now, questions regarding different systems of the body and sharp whistles on the wrestling mat set the pace of her everyday life.

Coppell High School Medical Terminology teacher and assistant girls wrestling coach Maxine Sturch was a former 911 dispatcher in Plano and Arlington from 2011-13.

“I had to grow up really fast as a dispatcher because of the severity and urgency of calls I was presented with,” Sturch said. “As I pressed forward into teaching, one,  I had to always keep things in perspective, but two, I always had to realize that things do need to be taken seriously.”

As a dispatcher, Sturch experienced scenarios teaching her to not stress on little things and appreciate what life has to offer.

”A 12-year-old girl called and found her mom unconscious, bleeding and I had to talk her through CPR. She did not know her address and a lot of stressful things happened,” Sturch said. “When I think of stuff like that, there is a reason why people go through what they go through. I’m always having to reassure kids in my classes that grades are not what defines you. Moments will define you.”

Prior to her dispatch career, Sturch won the USA Karate Federation’s 2010 World University Team Trials and competed for Team USA at the 7th World University Karate Championships, which shaped her wrestling career to date.

“I competed in karate at a really high level, but also around that time, I was a volunteer coach at the Plano East wrestling program,” Sturch said. “I would always put down on my resume that I could coach either powerlifting, track or wrestling. Frisco ISD reached out to me and said, ‘Hey, we have an assistant position available for wrestling,’ and after that, it was a whirlwind of events that got me to where I am today.”

In wrestling, athletes feel a safe haven when around Sturch.

“She is really nice on the mat and always helps kids out,” junior wrestler Laura Lucio said. “She would always check up on me and everyone else.”

While Sturch has many accolades, she is remembered for something more simple: her kindness and empathy for those around her.

“The kids like her a lot, and she is understanding with them,” American Sign Language teacher Delosha Payne said. “To be in a position where she is working with students, she is a living, breathing person they can aspire to be like.”

Sturch implements life lessons into her classroom lectures and wrestling.

“I intentionally put kids under stress because they need to practice handling stress, so I will do a lot of verbal quizzes and a lot of timed activities to intentionally create chaotic noise in the background because that’s how it is in a 911 call,” Sturch said.

While being put through life simulations, students feel supported and comfortable in Sturch’s classroom.

“She is really funny, and most teachers do not show their real personalities in class,” sophomore Pranav Puvvula said. “She is not afraid to make jokes.”

Sturch’s advice reflects her own journey and demonstrates her impact on others.

“Keep things in perspective,” Sturch said. “When you are in high school, you feel like this is the most important thing that is going to define your life. If you mess up, you will let your parents down, you will let your teachers down and it feels like that is the end of the road. Truthfully, there are so many paths to take, and the adversity and hardships that close one door are really going to lead you to another.”

This story was originally published on Coppell Student Media on September 29, 2025.