Thanks for visiting my Web Site!
This semester at PRC, I teach English 3 Honors during 1st period (7:40-9:14 a.m. ), Newspaper during 2nd period (9:29-11:03 a.m.) and Athletic PE/Softball during 4th period (1:17-2:51 p.m.). I can be reached by email at alabella@prc.k12.ms.us.
RESPONSIBILITIES AT PRC:
In addition to teaching English 3 Honors, Newspaper, and Athletic P.E., I am in my 10th year as head softball coach at PRC. I am proud of all the players and other coaches who help make our teams determined, loyal, and competitive. We have a great coaching staff, with Director of Softball Operations Kelsey Carroll and assistants Rayford Lee and Kirk Stewart. The Softball Jamboree at Harrison Central starts this season on February 11, 2023. The softball team will be seeking its eighth district title in the last nine seasons when it faces league foes West Harrison, Long Beach, and Picayune in the spring. Although I am currently not coaching girls basketball, I have been a girls basketball coach for more than 25 years. I am very fortunate to have been the head coach of the LHSAA (Louisiana) 2004 State Girls Basketball champions while at Cabrini High School in New Orleans, the LHSAA 2009 State Softball champions while at Belle Chasse High School, and the MISSHSAA 2018 South State Softball champions while here at Pearl River Central.
I also moderate the Animal Care Club at PRC. I have long had a passion for animal rescue and am proud to have rescued many dogs from the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and Chalmette, La., in the days after Hurricane Katrina. I like the saying, "There is no such thing as 'just a dog.' " I am currently the caretaker of two wonderful dogs - Roxie, a mixed breed whom I found in Picayune in 2008 when she was just three months old and had mercilessly been cut/scraped all the way down her back to create an open wound in an attempt to make her a "bait dog" by some awful person; and Shoba, a mixed-breed rescue from the CARA organization in Jackson, Ms. Also, I have taken on the unofficial role of "Caretaker of the PRC Campus Cats," along with fellow teacher Mrs. Caren Rogers. Mrs. Rogers and I successfully trapped the entire colony two summers ago, then had them fixed, got them their shots, and released them back to their home in Carriere. With increased membership, I am hoping that PRC's Animal Care Club can do great things this year and make a difference helping the Pearl River County SPCA and other animal-advocacy groups.
TEACHER CREDENTIALS:
1986 - graduate of Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, La. (Class Valedictorian and "Outstanding Graduate")
1990 - graduate of Loyola (New Orleans) University, with honors ("Print Journalism" Major and "Sociology" Minor)
1997 - completed Alternate Teacher Certification program at Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans
Before deciding to get into teaching and coaching, I was a staff sportswriter for The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune newspaper for four years.
I have more than 26 years of teaching and coaching experience at the high-school level. My previous stops as a teacher and coach were Archbishop Shaw High School (Marrero, La.), Cabrini High School (New Orleans, La.), Chalmette (La.) High School, and Belle Chasse (La.) High School. During my teaching career, I have been fortunate to work with countless scholars and standout athletes. At various points in my career, I have taught 8th-grade English, English Basics, English I, English II, English II-Honors, English III, English III-Honors, Journalism, Health, and Athletic P.E. I have worked in several high-performing school districts and am proud now to be at another great school that has high academic expectations and a wonderful administration. I know that we are all working hard to make our award-winning high school even better!
HOBBIES/INTERESTS:
I have a seemingly strange variety of hobbies and interests. Among them are rescuing/helping animals and fighting for animal-rights causes, reading and watching "True Crime" stories, following college sports, especially in the Southeastern Conference, riding roller coasters (though I am petrified to fly in an airplane), discussing current and political events, reading about meteorology (one spring I want to go storm-chasing in Tornado Alley), listening to country music, especially Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney, and hanging out with family, friends, or my dogs.
My "Favorites" list would include...
Food: Spaghetti
Places: Cedar Point (in Ohio) and Schlitterbahn (in Texas)
Singers: Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney
Songs: "Before He Cheats, "Back Where I Come From," and "Don't Blink"
Movie: "Twister"
DISLIKES:
I am a pretty easy-going person. But there are some things that drive me crazy. They include...
excuses
those who mistreat the unborn, the young, the elderly, or animals
people who are not appreciative of our great country and choose to disrespect it and/or our flag and National Anthem
mean or arrogant people
flying
losing close ball games
people who are "fakes"
a certain two teams in the SEC West (they shall remain nameless)
MISC./CONTACT INFORMATION:
I will do whatever it takes for my students to excel and enjoy their experiences at PRC. I feel that I have a solid rapport with my students, and I am willing to go the extra mile, especially if the student is working hard and putting in a good effort. Although I was born and raised on the West Bank of New Orleans, I have lived in Carriere since 2003 (that's the quickest I could get out of the city!) and really enjoy life in this area. Feel free to contact me at any time at alabella@prc.k12.ms.us, and I will reply as quickly as possible!
GO DEVS AND HAIL STATE!