Leaders Among Us: How Teachers and Coaches Shape CHS Beyond the Classroom

When you think about the people who make an impact at school, you probably picture your best friends, favorite teachers, or maybe the teammates who push you through practice. But what about the adults who guide, encourage, and influence students every single day, often in ways we don’t even realize? From the classroom to the sidelines, our teachers and coaches at CHS are shaping more than just grades or game plans, they’re shaping us.

Take Captain Scott McMahon from ROTC. He’s quick to admit he’s not a “perfect role model,” but he knows the responsibility comes with the territory. “Whether you are or you’re not, you should be striving to be that,” he said. His philosophy is simple: be honest, keep it real, and remind students not to stress over every little thing. As he likes to tell his kids, “What you’re going through, thousands of people have done before… take advantage of the time, but don’t sweat the smooth stuff.”

His ROTC partner, Master Chief David Arrieta, is newer to campus but no stranger to leadership. For him, influence starts with example. “If I was showing up late or I wasn’t happy to be here, then the students wouldn’t be happy either,” he explained. Instead, he focuses on positivity and building relationships with students one by one. His favorite reminder is, “Praise in public and criticism in silence.” In his eyes, being a leader isn’t about pulling people down, it’s about building them up.

Coach Jason Keller takes a similar approach on the football field and in the classroom. For him, the real win isn’t just in touchdowns or test scores, it’s in growth. “If they walked out of my classroom or off the field better than when they walked on, then it’s been a success,” he said. He admits that coaching and teaching blur together, students he’s never coached still call out “Hey, Coach!” in the halls, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. To him, it means he’s making a lasting impact.

Meanwhile, Mr. Omar Sultani balances his role as both biology teacher and Student Council advisor, which makes him one of the most recognizable faces on campus. Students see him everywhere, assemblies, dances, games, and that visibility adds weight to his role. “A manager will tell you what to do, but a leader will show you what to do and work along with you,” he said. With over 20 years at CHS, he’s seen generations of students come and go, but his advice to young leaders remains the same: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

And then there’s Mrs. Madelaine Lopez, who reminds us that being a role model doesn’t mean hiding behind perfection. She believes in showing her authentic self, both the funny side and the serious side, so students feel comfortable being themselves, too. “When kids see you being yourself in the classroom, they feel like they can be themselves,” she explained. From greeting students at the door to cheering them on at events, she makes sure they know they matter as people first. Her message to teachers is simple: “Be positive. When you’re positive, it brings a different energy to everyone around you.”

Together, these five CHS leaders show that influence comes in many forms  –  through honesty, encouragement, example, and positivity. Whether on the field, in the classroom, or at a school dance, their actions remind us that role models aren’t just people we look up to. They’re people who walk beside us, shaping the kind of community we want our school to be.