ART
Junior high students at Grace Community School learn the fundamentals of drawing and design in various genres of art.
BAND
Students in sixth grade learn foundational skills and music reading on woodwind and brass instruments. Select instruments can be provided free of cost for one year to allow students to “try-out” an instrument without the added expense of a rental fee. Students perform two concerts per year. Students in seventh and eighth grade with at least one year’s experience in band develop more advanced skills. This class will combine with the high school to develop advanced skills on woodwind, brass, and percussion. Students perform three concerts per year, October, December, and May, as well as attend various competitions as a group and as individuals.
CHOIR
Teaches the basics of singing in unison and parts along with sight singing. Seventh and eighth grade choir expands on these skills, and the eighth grade choir has the opportunity to explore musical theater by producing a junior musical project.
DRAMA
Sixth grade drama introduces students to creative dramatics and foundational performance skills. A combined seventh and eighth grade class builds these skills and produces a one-act play.
DRUMLINE
Sixth grade students learn the fundamentals of playing percussion in an after-school club and expand on these skills in the Middle School Drumline. All Drumline students must sign up for another fine art during the school day.
ORCHESTRA
Students with no prior string experience on violin, viola, cello or bass learn the fundamentals of their instrument. Select instruments can be provided free of cost for one year to allow students to “try-out” an instrument without the added expense of a rental fee. Students perform two concerts per year. Students in seventh and eighth grade orchestra with at least one year’s experience on violin, viola, cello or bass develop more advanced skills. Students perform three concerts per year, October, December, and May, as well as attend various competitions as a group and as individuals.
Meet Our Team
Jennifer Furr
Choir Director
Jennifer Furr
Choir Director
M.Ed., University of Texas at Tyler
Jennifer joined Grace Community School in 2018 as the high school and middle school choir director. She has a Bachelor of Music degree from Stephen F. Austin State University with a choral music emphasis as well as a Master of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Tyler. She has over 20 years of experience teaching voice and directing choirs in both public and private schools from the middle school to collegiate level. Her choirs have performed under her conducting baton in Dublin, Prague, Salzburg, Vienna, Munich, and Dresden, as well as Carnegie Hall and Disney World. Jennifer has two sons, Cameron and Charles, who are both enrolled at GCS. They attend Green Acres Baptist Church where Jennifer actively participates in the music ministry.
Anna Pierce
Art
Anna Pierce
Art
B.A., Art History, University of North Texas
Anna joined the Grace team in 2020. She received her bachelor’s degrees in Painting/Drawing and Art History from the University of North Texas. She teaches art at Grace Middle School 5th and 6th and Grace University. Anna is married to the delightful Drew Pierce, and they have two dear preschoolers!
Jeff Shelton
Mathematics & Drumline
Jeff Shelton
Mathematics & Drumline
B.S., Stephen F. Austin State University
Jeff has worked as a high school teacher since 1991 and started at Grace Community School in 1997. Jeff teaches high school mathematics and directs the Grace Community Drumline, which was established in 1998. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Stephen F. Austin State University. Jeff is married to Kathy, who also teaches at GCS.