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Winter McCray
Middle School Visual Arts Coordinator
A Baton Rouge native and graduate of Southern University A&M College, Winter D. McCray is a dancer, teacher, choreographer and the founder of Winter Dance Company in Baton Rouge, LA where they serve over 180 students ranging from ages 12 months to adult. Winter is a highly recognized Dance Instructor with Dance & Gym USA and is a member of the National Dance Education Organization where she serves as the sponsor of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts chapter at PFMS. Winter serves on the Artist Advisory Board for the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge and is an active member of the Junior League Organization.
This is her tenth year as the director of the Dance Program and fifth year as the Head Coach of the Raiderettes Dance Team at Park Forest Middle School. She is currently the Team Leader for the Fine Arts Department and was named Park Forest Middle School's "2021-2022 Teacher of the Year." Her motto is, "Dance, Live It, Love It, Do It. !
Introducing Ms. Winter D. McCray!
Tory Williams, M.Ed.
Middle School Performing Arts Coordinator
Tory Williams is a native of Baker, Louisiana and a music educator and STEM facilitator in the City of Baker School District. Williams holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as well as a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from LSU-Shreveport. He is also a member of the Southern University Quarterback Club, Southern University Human Jukebox Alumni Association, Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE), and the National Association For Music Education (NAFME). Williams was initiated into the Beta Zeta Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon Spring 2008 and is the current President/Treasurer of the Baton Rouge Alumni chapter.
Outside of music, he enjoys arranging music, playing tennis, attending sporting events, and spending time with friends and family. He deeply enjoys sharing the love of music with his students.
Dominique Gibbs
Elementary Performing Arts Coordinator
Ms. Gibbs is the Music Specialist at Park Forest Elementary. She is a New Orleans native and mother of two boys. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Performance Degree in Vocal Music and Piano from Southern University and A&M College's Music Department. Ms. Gibbs was initiated into Mu Phi Epsilon International Professional Music Fraternity in the Spring of 2007. She is also an active member of Mu Phi Epsilon's Alumni chapter in Baton Rouge of which she holds office as Vice President. Ms. Gibbs was Teacher of the Year for 2021-2022 at Park Forest Elementary Creative Sciences & Arts Magnet school where she teaches General Music, Entertainment Technology, and Piano.
Ms. Gibbs is also the facilitator of the Audio and Video Production Lab, The Pirate Ship Podcast, and Director of the Famous Singing Pirates choir. She was also inducted into the Beta Class of the MUSIC GREEKS UNDER 40 SOCIETY, by the nationally recognized MUSIC GREEKΣ, a non-profit organization which serves to commemorate and raise awareness of the existence of seven national music greek letter organizations.
Ms. Gibbs made history as the 2023 Inaugural Elementary Fine Arts Teacher for the District of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools System.
She is an outstanding Singer, Songwriter, and Musician.
Shelton D. Smith
High School Performing Arts Coordinator
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Southern University and A&M College as well as a Master of Music Education degree from Anderson Univeristy, South Carolina. Mr. Smith began his teaching career with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System (EBRPSS) in 2009. For over a decade, he has served EBRPSS music education community in roles such as team leader for his department, coordinator of middle schools for the Debose Fine Arts Festival, and guest choral conductor for EBRPSS Honors Choir.
Currently, Mr. Smith serves as director of choruses and piano teacher at Woodlawn High School. Moreover, Mr. Smith is a member of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) and the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus (BRSC). Mr. Smith was recently appointed as the High School Coordinator for the DeBose Fine Arts Festival.
Katherine Sharp
Elementary Visual Arts Coordinator
Katherine Sharp is the Visual Art Specialist and Art Club sponsor at FHAE. Katherine is a veteran teacher, with a career educating children for over 16 years, an artist, and a proud mother and wife. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Art Education from LSU (Geaux Tigers)! Katherine is a member of Louisiana Photographic Society, Art Guild of Louisiana, LAE, and various Art Education/Educator groups. When not working, which is rare, Katherine can be found with her family, painting, taking photos, or enjoying/appreciating the arts in some fashion.
Allegri Gosserand
High School Visual Arts Coordinator
I have had a successful experience in leading and mentoring students of various ages and backgrounds by using diverse instructional approaches and resources during my fifteen years at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School (SMAMS). As a certified dance teacher, my passion for dance and many years of experience provided me the opportunity to collaborate and engage with other faculty, committees, local and national artists in creative spaces.
My hopes are through hard work and dedication we continue to uphold a tradition of excellence in our dance spaces.
Chanel Nettles
Elementary Coordinator
Chanel Nettles is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana. She currently resides in West Baton Rouge Parish and serves as a Music Educator. Her musical abilities have created amazing experiences for her, such as performing in the Opera, La Bohème, at the young age of eight years old. Mrs. Nettles enjoys singing and playing the piano. She is a pianist and worked as a private piano instructor for BREC, while she pursued her teaching degree.
She inspires musicians to have perseverance, through her story of determination when faced with failure. Her passion for music inspired her to pursue a career in Music Education. She attended Southern University A&M College, where she graduated with a B.S. Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. Mrs. Nettles is recognized for her natural ability to lead. Her success has been recognized as she provides her students with an empowering and creative musical classroom.
She is a member of the professional music organization, Mu Phi Epsilon, and was selected teacher of the year, in 2016, at Park Ridge Academic Magnet School. Mrs. Nettles future plans include becoming an administrator and continuing to be an advocate for the Fine Arts.
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