Coach Dawnielle Kiel is extremely excited about joining Walnut Grove as the Head Girls Basketball Coach. She is from Cypress, Texas, right outside of Houston. Coach Kiel graduated from Texas State University with a degree in Exercise Sports Science. While attending Texas State, she played basketball for two years and continued her playing career at St. Edward's University in Austin, TX. This is Coach Kiel's seventh year coaching and teaching. The last four years, she has been at Frisco Liberty High School, where her team won two 5A State Championships (2020, 2023), finished as State Runner-Up (2021), and were Regional Finalists (2022). Coach Kiel can't wait to get started at The Gove and be a part of an amazing community!

Coach Coby Velez is in his fifth year of education, where he has spent all five years as the Head Tennis Coach of Wall High School. In his time at Wall, his athletes have set a program record of 29 Regional Qualifiers, 9 State Qualifiers, a State Silver Medalist, Four Individual State Champions, and One State Team Championship. In 2020, Coach Velez was named the 3A and Under State Coach of the Year and in 2022 was elected the 2nd Vice President of the Texas Tennis Coaches Association.

Coach Velez and his wife, Alexandra, have one son named Kaistyn (20 months). They are very excited to become members of the Prosper and Walnut Grove communities! GO WILDCATS!

Coach Tim O'Brien is excited to be joining the Walnut Grove Family as the Head Softball Coach. Coach O'Brien began teaching and coacing in Washington State, but moved south to be closer to family. He coached High School softball in Weatherford before moving to Frisco to become the Head Coach at Frisco Heritage where he has been for the last 7 years. Coach O'Brien also coaches select ball and most recently began coaching the 16U National Team for Glory Adkins. 

Prior to becoming a teacher and coach, Coach O'Brien served as a member of the United States Army for 8 years as a medic. He is married to his high school sweetheart and they are excited to have this opportunity and looking forward to working with the great athletes at Walnut Grove. 

Nikki Marshall (Ganter) played and graduated from John Brown University located in Siloam Springs, Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management. She also holds a Masters of Education in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University. During her time at JBU, she led her team to its first-ever NAIA National Championships appearance, while becoming the first All-American in program history. She then went on to sign with Glentoran FC located in Belfast, Ireland where she made the starting 11 as a forward in the Women’s UEFA cup in 2008 where she scored against Croatia.

Her coaching career began when she became the Assistant Men's’ and Women’s soccer coach at Oklahoma Baptist University for one season before signing her contract to play in Ireland. She has been coaching in Garland ISD for the past 11 years where she has turned programs into successful competitors. The last 4 years she has been the Head Coach for Lakeview Centennial where she was named the 2022 9-6A Coach of the Year.

She has recently become Mrs. Nikki Marshall - married to best friend, Caleb Marshall, and son, Isaiah (5). She believes that collaboration, hard work, trust and commitment are the pillars of being a great coach, teacher, and leader. Let’s. GO. CATS! 

Every day is a joy to be treasured. Every day is a potential life long memory. Brian earned a Bachelor of Music from Sam Houston State University under the direction of Dr. Carol Smith. His Master of Education degree was earned from The University of North Texas in 1999. His favorite college experience was being a part of starting the string orchestra program in the school system for his college town (Hunstville, TX).

In his "free time", Brian enjoys sports, fixing things, and being outside. Hiking, camping, being on the lake or the beach, hot or cold, his family likes their epic road trips and the adventure of the outdoors! He enjoys hanging out with his wife Sharon and their two sons Noah and Camden. You will also find him playing basketball, golf, baseball, table tennis....if they keep score he's game! Brian started playing piano at an early age and moved to the string bass at age 10. He enjoys playing any and all instruments. If you can name it, chances are, he has played it. If you think you might have one he has not seen, Brian would love to add it to the list of instruments he has been able to experience.

Starting his teaching career in Amarillo, then teaching in Plano and finally Murphy, Brian has enjoyed getting to be a part of wonderful schools and inviting communities. Mr. Henson has been honored as “Teacher of the Year" and as a recipient of the "Excellence in Teaching Award". This award is given to the Top Five teachers of the year. His orchestras consistently receive Sweepstakes awards, Best in Class Festival awards, and have been three time winners of the "Mark of Excellence" National competition. Festivals, competitions and trophies are fun, but the class recordings on a random Tuesday can be the best musical experience of the year. You will never forget the one time when you achieved perfection, no matter the time, place, or audience. Mr. Henson is dedicated to bringing each student a strong individual and community experience while promoting a life-long love of music.

I have been in education for 21 years, with experience in the classroom, as a coach, curriculum and instruction, and administration. I LOVE kids and teachers and believe that my purpose is to serve others so that they are equipped to do their best. I have an amazing husband, Frank, who is also an administrator and two boisterous boys, Corban (10) and Devin (12). We love sports, travel and eating. We are a Prosper family and love being a part of this community. I am so excited to join the Walnut Grove team and to be a part of building a legacy of excellence!

Mrs. Amy Viars is excited to join the inaugural staff at Walnut Grove! This is Mrs. Viars 18th year in education and her 8th year serving Prosper ISD. Mrs. Viars served five years as a teacher and has been an Assistant Principal at Prosper High School for the last three years. Amy and her husband Andy live in Prosper with their two children: Emma and Garrett. Mrs. Viars’ passion is to support and empower teachers and students by cultivating excitement for learning. Her goal is to have a positive impact on those she serves and to encourage both staff and students to pursue their goals. Mrs. Viars is honored to serve the Walnut Grove Family. GO WILDCATS!!!   

Howdy Wildcats! I am so excited to make the leap to high school after spending my entire educational career in middle school. I taught math and Algebra I before moving into an assistant principal role at both Reynolds and Hays. I am a wife to Steven, mother to three boys (Sam, Rett, and Hank) and a huge Aggie fan (Class of '93 Whoop!). I can't wait to meet our students and families. Let's go WILDCATS!!!

Dr. Hurbough is in her 11th year in Prosper ISD and 24th year in education, 20 of those years as a school counselor. She is married to her husband, David, and they have two boys, Ben and Colton, who are students at Prosper ISD. Dr. Hurbough is excited to serve all of the families at The Grove! Go Wildcats!

Amber Robertson is in her 18th year of education and 9th year at Prosper ISD. She has spent the past 4 years as one of the counselors at Rogers Middle School. She is married to her husband, Chad, and they have three kids, Kaylee, Lucas, and Makena, who attend Prosper ISD. Mrs. Robertson spends her free time watching her kids play sports and indulging in podcasts and television shows. She is excited and honored to support the students and families at Walnut Grove. 

I am thrilled to be a Walnut Grove Wildcat! I have been a counselor at the elementary and middle school levels for over 20 years in Plano. I graduated from The University of Texas at Dallas with my Bachelors degree and Amber University with two Masters degrees. I am married with 2 grown children (Lexi and Logan) and 3 dogs (Ries, Ruby and Lucas). We love to travel and camp. The outdoors is our playground and where we can be found most weekends and throughout the summer. I am an avid sports enthusiast, especially in the fall watching college and NFL football.

As a school counselor and advocate, I provide support to students in all aspects (academic, career, and personal/social). I believe all students can become productive and resilient members of our community. Education is the cornerstone to all things and I am here to support every student as they plan for graduation and life after high school. 

I am so excited to be a part of the Grove family! I have been with Prosper ISD as part of the Prosper High School CTE team for the past 9 years. I graduated from Texas A&M University- Commerce with a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Science. I have been teaching Fashion Design & Culinary classes at Prosper High School and have loved teaching such great life skills to the students. I have been married to my husband, Brett, for 18 years and we have a senior graduating from PHS this fall and will be attending Texas Tech in the fall and our daughter will be a freshman at Walnut Grove. I look forward to next year. Go Wildcats!

As a Cal, Berkeley alum with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, I am a true lifelong learner with a passion for education: both as a student and a teacher. I have been in education for 13 years as an ELD Coordinator, an AP and IB English Teacher, a Swimming Coach, and an English Department Chair; and I am entering this next phase of my career with enthusiasm! I live in Prosper and will have my own girls attend Walnut Grove as they continue on in their educational journey. I absolutely cannot wait to play a part in making Grove the best possible school and community! Go Cats!

My name is Robert Sparks. I grew up in northeast Oklahoma. My wife and I moved to Texas in 2018 in order to join the Prosper ISD family. We are excited to continue serving the community. When I am not in the classroom, I enjoy volunteering with various dog rescue groups, reading, and watching a good movie!  

Mrs. Jaballa-Wasson is in her 8th year of education and, proudly all 8 years have been served here at Prosper ISD. She attended the University of North Texas where she earned both her Bachelor's in Biology and Master's degree in ESL & Bilingual Education. While she has a love for all sciences, her main passion is Biology and Life Sciences where she is able to connect her real world research experiences back into the classroom.

Mrs. Jaballa-Wasson believes that as an educator, we have the privilege of showing every student we come in contact with that they matter. The most rewarding part of teaching is not only fostering their education, but also their voice and she is so excited to pour that philosophy into Walnut Grove!  

Hi all, you can probably tell by my lack of y'all that I'm not a Texas native. Born and raised in Kansas, I went to college in Oklahoma and have been a Texan now for 12 years. I have 18 years of teaching experience with 10 of those years in Prosper ISD. Proud to say that I have worked at PHS, RHHS, and now get to help start another amazing school in Prosper ISD. Excited to be a Walnut Grove Wildcat and start this next adventure!

I am so excited about joining the Wildcats! After spending time at PHS and RHHS, I can’t wait to grow the same PISD magic at The Grove. I teach ASL and am now thrilled with the opportunity to lead our WG World Language team! Let’s do this!   

I am so excited to be a part of the Grove family! I have been with Prosper ISD as part of the Prosper High School CTE team for the past 9 years. I graduated from Texas A&M University- Commerce with a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Science Degree in Agricultural Science. I have been teaching Fashion Design & Culinary classes at Prosper High School and have loved teaching such great life skills to the students. I have been married to my husband, Brett, for 18 years and we have a senior graduating from PHS this fall and will be attending Texas Tech in the fall and our daughter will be a freshman at Walnut Grove. I look forward to next year. Go Wildcats!

Coach Jake Garner is excited to be the Head Boys Basketball Coach for Walnut Grove. He is in his 9th year of education, all of which have been in Prosper ISD. A graduate of the University of North Texas, Coach Garner came to Prosper ISD as a student teacher and has never looked back. He has been part of building both the football and basketball programs at Prosper High School. His time there included 9 straight playoff appearances and a Regional Semi-Final in basketball and 9 playoff wins in 4 years while coaching football before becoming the Varsity Assistant Basketball Coach. While teaching World Geography for the past 6 years, Coach Garner was Teacher of the Year in 2019. He is married to his wife Taylor and they have a two year old daughter named Jaiden. He looks forward to continuing his journey in the only place he has ever called home, Prosper ISD! #TDG

Coach Fulfer is from Stephenville, Texas and currently serves as the Assistant Golf Coach at Frisco Independence HS. During High School, she won the 2010 State Championship in golf as a medalist. She continued her golf career at Tarleton State University, where she earned her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Kinesiology. At Tarleton, she helped her team earn 3 LSC Championships, two West Regional Championships, and three Top 5 finishes at the NCAA Division II Championship.

This will be Coach Fulfer´s 9th year as a Math Teacher and Golf Coach. She and her husband, Nick, have two sons: Jhett (8) and Tate (4). She is very excited about joining her husband in Prosper ISD and beginning the next chapter in her career with the Wildcats!!! 

Coach Autumn Loyd is excited to join Walnut Grove as the Head Volleyball Coach. She played at the collegiate level and graduated from Tarleton State University with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. She has served Canton ISD for 3 years as the Head Volleyball Coach and has several notable accomplishments including being named a 4A top 5 team and they apperared in their first regional tournament in 2022. Coach Loyd was named District 16-4A Coach of the Year, AVCA Thirty Under 30, 2023 THSCA R.O.C.K Mentee, and 2023 All-Rose Country Coach of the Year. Her husband Walker is a police officer for Greenville Police Department and they have a 10 month old son named Luke. Coach Loyd and her family are excited for this new opportunity and cannot wait to get to know the Walnut Grove and Prosper ISD community! 

Coach Mark Cain is in his 13 year as an educator and his 7th in Prosper ISD. He has always loved sports but his passion has always been baseball.  Coach Cain has coached in both Arkansas and Texas, and has been part of three State Championship teams. He most recently has served the students at Rock Hill High School as the Varsity Baseball Assistant. Coach Cain is committed to a standard of excellence and is eager to get the work started this summer. Coach Cain is married to his wife, Shelby, and they have two daughters. Go Cats! 

Ms. Kelly Medlin is excited to join Walnut Grove as the Color Guard Director. She has served as the color guard director at Emerson High School in Frisco since the school’s opening in 2021 and has grown the program from 4 members to 40. Ms. Medlin's teams have had a proven history of success, most recently being named WGI Dallas Regional Champions in 2022, NTCA Grand Championships silver medalists, and 4th place overall at the Sounds of Fall Marchin Classic. Ms. Medlin has instructed several guards in the DFW metroplex and is no stranger to Prosper ISD, where she has assisted both the Prosper High School and Rock Hill High School guards. Mrs. Medlin lives in McKinney with her husband, Tyler, and their three cats, Tarzan, Mowgli, and Mushu. In her free time she loves to spend time with her family, go golfing, and read books. 

Terreneé Knight (pronounced Tair-a-nay) was born in Gary, Indiana and moved to the Dallas, area around the age of 9. She is a proud graduate of Garland ISD’s Naaman Forest High School where she was a 4 year varsity track team member and played basketball. 

Coach Knight graduated from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies. She also holds a Masters of Arts in Education from the University of Phoenix and principal certification from Lamar University. 

Her teaching and coaching journey began in 2009 as a middle school English teacher and basketball/track coach in Garland ISD. She has taught 6th and 8th grade English at the middle school level as well as English 1, 3, Creative Writing, and Literary Genres at the high school level. During the last 10 years of her 14 year tenure in Garland ISD, she has served as the Girls Athletic Coordinator at Lakeview Centennial High School.

Coach Knight believes that hard work, commitment, and paying it forward are the cornerstone of being a great coach, teacher, leader and member of the community. She is the proud life partner of Micheal Robinson II and doting mother of 1 year old Makari. 

Coach Brittany Shaver is in her 18th year of teaching. She attended TCU and was a part of the Showgirls dance team for three years where she performed in a movie and for many events including NFL and NBA halftime shows before transferring to SFA and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising.

In 2005 she began teaching at Sachse High School where she served as the junior varsity director for 2 years and the varsity director for 7 years. Under her direction, the Swingsters won three National Champion titles and many regional best in class teams. In 2014 Ms. Shaver started the dance program and Royals drill team program at the brand new Frisco ISD- Independence HS. The Royals went on to win two National Champion titles as well as many Best of the Best awards. Both teams also participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Ms. Shaver then came to Prosper ISD in 2020 and started the dance and drill team program at the new PISD high school, Rock Hill.

In her spare time, Ms. Shaver loves spending time with family and friends at the lake house.  She loves watching college football(GO FROGS!), Stars hockey and cooking out with friends.  Brittany and her sister Meredith also started an online boutique business in 2022 and they love the time they get to spend together. Her favorite thing of all time is anything CHRISTMAS!!

Tanner Smith is excited to join Prosper ISD and the Walnut Grove High School Community, serving as Director of Bands. Smith served as the Director of Bands at Wakeland HS in Frisco ISD from 2016-2023.

During his tenure, the Wakeland High School Marching Band consistently was named class champion, finalist, and most recently, regional champion in the Bands of America North Texas regional events. The marching band is a consistent UIL Texas State Marching Band Contest finalist, and was named the 2019 Class 5A Bronze Medalist. Most recently, the Wakeland Wind Symphony was invited to perform at the 75th Annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Smith serves on the educational faculty for SASi - The Leadership People, serving high school leaders across the United States, and has had the privilege of teaching the Bands of America Honor Band in the 2013 and 2022 Rose Parades.

Mr. Smith currently lives in Celina, TX with his wife Corey, daughter Nora, and their dogs Rex and Chester.