Meet Our Staff

Angela Harris – Gifted and Talented Coordinator, DECATS Director

Angela Harris brings 29 years of diverse educational experience to her role as DECATS Director at GCISD. Her career began as a middle school English Language Arts teacher in Duncanville ISD and later included teaching second grade and collaborating on district-wide math curriculum development in Bryan, Texas. Angela joined GCISD in 1999, teaching first and second grade at O.C. Taylor Elementary, and has also taught high school English in a private school setting.

In 2012, Angela returned to GCISD to teach first grade at Dove Elementary with a focus on advanced academics. She joined the Advanced Academics team in 2016 as the GT Specialist at Glenhope Elementary, designing and facilitating staff development, collaborating on gifted curricula, and administering district aptitude tests. She is an active member of GCISD’s ASPIRE District Placement Committee.

Angela holds a Bachelor’s in English/Education from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. Since fall 2022, she has served as Gifted and Talented Coordinator for GCISD. She also had the honor of serving as DECATS Camp Director at Baylor University in June 2024 and July 2025, and serves part-time as Baylor TIP Coordinator at the University of Dallas.

Angela is passionate about fostering challenging, enriching learning experiences that help gifted students grow both intellectually and socially.

Louisa Hilton – Gifted and Talented Specialist, DECATS Director

Louisa Hilton is an experienced educator with nine years of service in GCISD. She began her career in 2016 at Dove Elementary, where she has taught in both traditional classroom settings and as a Gifted and Talented Specialist. Over the past four years, Louisa has administered aptitude testing, led the elementary GT committee, and facilitated professional development for staff. She has also coordinated and led district-wide sessions aimed at informing families about the GT program and math advancement opportunities.

In addition to her role as GT Specialist, Louisa is passionate about extracurricular activities. She serves as the chess club sponsor at Dove Elementary and as the dance coach for the CTMS.

Louisa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Mathematics from Purdue University and a Master of Arts in Humanities from New York University. Her expertise and dedication to enhancing the educational experience for all students make her a valuable member of the GCISD team.

Bryan Hendrickson – Instructional Staff

Mr. Hendrickson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University. He has over 25 years of experience teaching grades 3rd-5th, focusing on science, math, and social studies skills. Mr. Hendrickson develops a love for learning through hands-on and exploratory learning approaches while building social skills and team work. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys spending time riding bikes, swimming, playing disc golf, pickleball and watching his four children participate in activities.

Tiffany Griffard – Instructional Staff

Tiffani Griffard is currently a GT Specialist in Grapevine Colleyville ISD where she has spent the last nine years teaching gifted and highly gifted students at Glenhope Elementary and in the well known GCISD ASPIRE Academy. She has taught 18 years ranging from pre-k to ninth grade English. Her passion has been serving the social, emotional and academic needs of gifted students over the last nine years in Grapevine, Texas where she resides. She received her bachelor's degree from The University of Texas in Austin where she still likes to go back to visit her Dad. She spends her free time watching movies, golfing and traveling.

Christina Hayes – Instructional Staff

Christina Hayes has been an educator for 16 years, teaching kindergarten, third, fourth, and fifth grades. For the past eight years, she has taught fifth grade at GCISD's ASPIRE Academy, a specialized program for highly gifted students. As GCISD's 2022 Elementary Teacher of the Year, she is passionate about challenging GT learners, ensuring they feel heard, and helping them develop self-awareness, voice, and choice in their education.

Joe Parthemore – Instructional Staff

Joe Parthemore is a 4th grade ASPIRE teacher at Glenhope Elementary. In the last 10 years, he has taught everything from science, math, and coding from 3rd to 8th grade. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Additionally, he has received state certifications in ESL, Mathematics 4th-8th, and Technology Applications K-12. In 2018, he received the Region 11 Teacher of the Year award and was one of the top 3 finalists for the state of Texas. Parthemore has co-authored two national publications, including Science and Children and Children and Libraries, and has been recognized in Fort Worth Magazine for his impact in the classroom. He enjoys being outdoors with his wife and two children. He is known as being the guy who is always looking for a new house project to work on.

Cailin Beck – Instructional Staff

Cailin Beck is a 1st‑grade gifted instructor with 10 years of experience supporting and inspiring gifted learners. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin and holds state certification in ESL. Passionate about teaching and learning, Cailin carefully challenges students just beyond their current abilities to build confidence, encourage creativity, and promote thinking outside the box. She designs hands‑on STEM projects and open‑ended activities that invite exploration, collaboration, and student choice. Outside the classroom, Cailin is a knowledge-seeker who loves reading, often with her cat, Lucy, curled in her lap. She has a penchant for cooking and baking new recipes. When she’s not crafting an engaging lesson or reflecting on new instructional strategies, baking chocolate chip cookies, journaling, or lifting heavy in the gym, you’ll likely find her walking or hiking with her Belgian Malinois, Lathe.

Kerri Hendrickson – Instructional Staff

Mrs. Hendrickson holds a Bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Texas State University and a Master's in Educational Administration from Lamar University. She brings over two decades of experience in Math and Science education to DECATS. She is passionate about fostering curiosity in the classroom. Her love for learning extends beyond the classroom to the kitchen, where she enjoys cooking and baking for friends and family. She is an avid reader and sports enthusiast who stays busy playing tennis, pickleball, and chasing after her shih tzus.

Linda Fullhart – Instructional Staff

Linda Fullhart earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in reading from the University of Iowa (pre-Hayden Frye). While moving across the country with her husband during his Navy service, she pursued studies in Gifted Education at multiple universities, ultimately completing her Master’s in Elementary Education with a specialization in Gifted Education from the University of North Texas.

Linda dedicated 28 years to GCISD, spending 23 of them working with gifted students in the district’s pullout program before teaching 5th grade in the ASPIRE Program at Glenhope. She retired at the end of the 2016-2017 school year and was honored as GCISD’s Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2011-2012.

Beyond education, Linda is a longtime volunteer at Grapevine’s Runway Theatre, contributing on stage, backstage, and as a board member. She has twice been named Volunteer of the Year and is a proud inductee of the Runway Theatre Hall of Fame.

Cullen Pearce – Instructional Staff

Mr. Cullen Pearce holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Midwestern State University and currently teaches a variety of Career and Technical Education courses at the middle school level. He is in his second year teaching Principles of Business, focusing on entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Mr. Pearce is passionate about guiding students towards developing high levels of questioning and thinking. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys tennis, reading, and pretty much anything sports related.

Becca Middlebrook – Instructional Staff

I am currently a kindergarten teacher at Colleyville Elementary School with four years of public school classroom experience and more than five years of experience teaching private Pre-K and writing developmentally appropriate curriculum. I have a strong passion for supporting and challenging GT learners and believe in a hands-on, experiential learning approach that actively engages young students. I graduated from TCU and am also a proud mom of a son in the ASPIRE program at Glenhope, which further fuels my commitment to gifted education. When I'm not teaching you can catch me at Disney World or watching my son play baseball.

Rion Wahpekeche – Instructional Staff

Hi everyone! I’m Rion Wahpekeche, and I’m thrilled to work with your scholars this summer. With nine years of experience in the ELAR classroom and an MFA degree from Oklahoma State University, I have a deep passion for the 'craft' of storytelling. I often find that writing a great story is a lot like my favorite hobbies: it requires the patience of a 1,000-piece puzzle, the rhythm of a guitar melody, and the precision of woodworking. I love helping scholars see how they can 'build' their ideas into something tangible and beautiful. I’m looking forward to seeing the incredible things our scholars create this summer!

Kameron Jones-Balsley – Instructional Staff

Kameron Jones-Balsley is currently in her 3rd year as the GT Specialist at Heritage Elementary. She has 21 years of teaching experience. This experience includes elementary grades 2-4, 10 years of experience as a GT Specialist in both Northwest ISD and now GCISD, and 6 years teaching 6th grade ASPIRE ELA and Social Studies. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Texas and her Master’s degree in Education with a specialization in Gifted Education from Southern Methodist University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Randall Harris – Instructional Staff

HOWDY!

My name is Randall Harris.

This is my 28th year teaching science with 22 years in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD. I have taught all levels of science mostly grades 6-8.

I am a graduate of Texas A&M- Gig 'Em! I earned a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with teacher certifications in biology and physical education.

I enjoy home improvement, watching and playing sports, and being outdoors.

Colleen Patton – Instructional Staff

With a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas and a Master's in Gifted Education from Hardin-Simmons University, Colleen Patton has dedicated 17 years to teaching, all within GCISD. 14 of Colleen's years focused exclusively on gifted students. Colleen helped to start the ASPIRE Academy at Glenhope, working there for 10 years, and has served as GT Specialist at Bransford Elementary for three years. Colleen is passionate about collaborating with gifted students, their families, and their teachers to make sure they feel seen, understood, and challenged.

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