Rapides High welcomes new employees to its Mustang Family for the 2023-2024 school year.

Hello! My name is Gay McDonald, and I am so very pleased to be teaching at Rapides High School this upcoming year. My first 39 years as a professional were spent educating and treating dental patients as a Registered Dental Hygienist. The Covid pandemic gave me space to think about a change, and as
a result I have happily spent the last 3 years teaching in Rapides Parish and acquiring my secondary teaching certification in biology.

I am a mother of three and a grandmother of four. My husband and I live in the Lecompte area, and I’m thrilled to be allowed to teach my favorite subject in the community where I live. My hobbies include gardening (roses, especially), and caring for our chickens, barn cats, and dogs. Being an educator has been an unexpected joy and privilege for me. Exploring the biology of the plants, animals, and environment we live in is relevant to each of us, and I look forward to joining the Mustang community here at Rapides High School.

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Amanda Rexrode is originally from the Shenandoah Valley area in Virginia, but as a military child, she was lucky to have lived in places all across the United States and Europe. She graduated with honors from Northwestern State University, obtaining a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Clinical Psychology. Ms. Rexrode joined the Louisiana National Guard in 2006, where she served for 12 years as an Army Aviation Electronics Mechanic, attaining the rank of Sergeant, E5. In 2018, she left the military and became a local youth counselor, working with young people ages 5-21 in Central Louisiana. She also worked as a counselor for the Office of Juvenile Justice through a federal grant plan, and has dedicated herself to helping young people learn to improve themselves and their futures. In this pursuit, Ms. Rexrode began her career as an educator. She taught CORE last year at Bolton High School.

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Hi Mustang family, I am Krystle Coleman and I will be working in our Special Education department. I am very excited to be joining the Mustang family and look forward to learning lots of new skills as well as gaining new colleagues and building relationships with everyone. I have been teaching Special Education for 18 years. I started my teaching career while coaching at Northwestern State University, I taught/coached at NSU for 3 seasons as assistant softball coach. I then returned to my alma mater Northwood High School where I worked in Special Education and coached multiple sports for 10 years. Next up was Bolton High School where I worked in the Special Education department for 3 years as well as coached multiple sports there. The last 2 years I have been working at Pinecrest Supports and Services working with severe students and coaching at Pineville High. I have 1 son Hayden Coleman (19), I love the outdoors and am an avid deer hunter! I also enjoy working out (a lot)! Looking forward to a great year with new adventures!