The Cougarettes exist to give glory to the Lord through dance, promoting school spirit, and representing Grace Community School at school and athletic events and within our community and state. Through participating in instructional and performance activities, young ladies are encouraged in both individual dance techniques and skills as well as learning to work as a team to result in a cohesive, skilled performance group. In addition, personal character qualities that are hallmarks of the drill team experience, such as responsibility, confidence, and poise, are developed in a faith-based and encouraging atmosphere. Cougarettes (grades 9-12) participate year-round by performing at football and basketball games, competing in the TAPPS State Dance Championships each winter and presenting their annual Spring Show production “Rette Revue” each spring, in addition to making multiple appearances and attending service opportunities within the community.
2024 – 2025 Cougarettes
Head Dance Captain Gracie Stokes, Senior
1st Lieutenant Ali Matson, Junior
2nd Lieutenant Brianna McMurray, Senior
Harper Landwermeyer, Senior
Co-Chaplain Camryn Watson, Senior
Co-Chaplain Caydence Chacon, Junior
Micah Barry, Sophomore
Jewel Pierce, Sophomore
Cayleigh Chacon, Freshman
Hazel Finley, Freshman
Phoenix Flores, Freshman
Mary-Meadows Marshall, Freshman
Kyndall Roberts, Freshman
Elizabeth Sheridan, Freshman
2024 – 2025 Cougarette Officers
Important Cougarette Dates:
Spring Dance Clinics for Middle School 5th-8th Grade
Wednesdays 4:15 – 5:30 pm in the MS Gym Dates: Feb. 12, Feb. 19, Feb. 26, March 5, March 26 & Showcase April 5th with STUNT clinic participants. Dance Clinic participants will have fun learning the basics of Dance and Drill Team with instruction from varsity coaches and athletes each week. Leaps, turns and kicks combined with fun choreography will give participants a great introduction to the Dance and Drill Team program at Grace. Interest meeting next Monday, Feb. 3rd at 4:00 pm in the H.S. Cafeteria
Save the Date! Rette Revue 2025 – Saturday, April 5th at 7:00 p.m. in Burgess Auditorium
Tickets will go on sale Monday, March 24th! General Admission $10, Staff/Students $7, Kids 4 & under free
2025-2026 Tryouts: Officer Tryouts April 15-17, 2025 | Line Tryouts: April 22-25, 2025
Required practices for new team: April 29, 30 & May 1, 2025 | 6:45 – 7:45 a.m.
Questions? Contact Director Melissa Fox at melissa.fox@gracetyler.org.
Cougarettes placed with a program history high finish in the Top 5 in the state
for the TAPPS State Dance Championships in January 2024!
Ms. Melissa is beginning her second season as Director of the Cougarettes, having served as the Assistant Director from 2019 – 2022. As a coach and mentor she places high value on poise, discipline, precision and teamwork all within a fun and encouraging atmosphere for her students. She loves being able to teach the Cougarettes to give glory to the Lord through dance while promoting school spirit and representing our school and community well.
Melissa grew up in a small town northeast of Dallas and was a studio-trained dancer from a young age. She discovered her passion for drill team in school and was a junior 1st Lieutenant and senior Head Dance Captain of her high school team. She then continued her dance career at the collegiate level as a member of the Tyler Junior College Apache Belles from 1999 – 2001 under the direction of Ruth Flynn. As an Apache Belle, she traveled and performed internationally – most notably in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Lord Mayor’s Ball in Dublin, Ireland. Other performance credits include Dallas Cowboys pre-games and halftime shows, a featured appearance on the television show Texas Country Reporter, participated in Houston’s Bank of America Thanksgiving Day Parades, Tyler Rose Parades, and performances at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Melissa was honored to serve as Chaplain her sophomore year of Apache Belles. Throughout her dance career, she consistently received both personal and team top honors, awards and scholarships throughout camps, competitions and conventions.
Following TJC, Melissa then attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Public Relations. In addition to directing the Cougarettes, Melissa also works full-time for a local advertising agency and writes for a local magazine, as well as a regional outdoor magazine. After college, Melissa lived in Houston and Dallas for 10 years before returning to East Texas in 2013 with her family. She attends Grace Community Church – UB Campus. Her daughters, Caroline and Natalie, are students of Grace Community School and are active participants in the athletics and fine arts programs at school.
Read Bio
Randi Chacon
Academic Success Center & Drill Team Coach
Randi Chacon
Academic Success Center & Drill Team Coach
M.Ed., Grand Canyon State University
Randi has been serving in the academic success center since 2022. She received her master’s degree in early childhood education and special education from Grand Canyon State University and her bachelor’s degree in general studies from Texas State University. Prior to joining GCS, Randi taught second grade in Tyler public school after moving from the Houston/Katy area, where she taught preschool at a Christian school. She and her husband, Jacob, have five children, and they attend Grace Community Church.
