Daughter follows mother’s footsteps at Copeland ES, where mom teaches

Brecklyn Wheeler (right) and daughter Delaney take a photo during “Meet the Teacher” night at Copeland Elementary School. Brecklyn is a former Copeland student and begins her 12th year teaching on campus, while Delaney follows her mother’s footsteps in beginning kindergarten at Copeland this school year.

Brecklyn Wheeler remembers when she first walked the halls at Copeland Elementary School. Moving over with fellow classmates from nearby Lowery Elementary School, Wheeler’s memories include earning candy – single M&M’s in one class and whole candy bars in another – for answering questions in classes to having her first-ever male teacher.

There was no being allowed to touch the walls either. Wheeler laughs about it now but at the time, the campus was brand new.

If her daughter Delaney isn’t allowed to touch the walls, it will be for another reason. But soon, the mother-daughter tandem will have another connection as Delaney begins kindergarten at Copeland, walking the same hallways Brecklyn did as a child.

Oh, and there’s this – Brecklyn is a second-grade math and science teacher at Copeland, starting her 12th year on campus.

“I have shown Delaney my old yearbooks and let her laugh at my early 90’s crimped hair,” said Brecklyn, who also attended Labay Middle School and graduated from Langham Creek High School. “So much has changed after almost 20 years, but we are both looking forward to this journey together.”

Brecklyn and husband Matthew are both CFISD products, leaving the area for college but returning after and embracing the family and community support
surrounding the two. Matthew’s mother Wendy Wheeler retired from CFISD in 2011 to help when Delaney was born and recently served as an Extended School Year Supervisor at Cypress Woods High School.

Entering Copeland as a teacher was strange for Brecklyn, as she was able to see the “other side” of the school. But dating back to her time as a student, friends she made – a number Brecklyn still speaks with to this day – has made Copeland like a second home for the Wheelers.

“The district is so big and so diverse, but it still maintains a sense of community,” Brecklyn said. “I think the fact that so many former students are returning to the district helps to further build that sense of community and family. To see the memories and bonds that my children have created with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and even neighbors makes moving back to Cy-Fair one of the best decisions we could have made.”