Mrs. Whitney McDonald

This is just my third year to live in Hallsville and work in Hallsville ISD. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone and all things Bobcats. It just so happens that purple is my favorite color. Last year I switched from my 20+ year social studies comfort zone back to my roots as an English Language Arts/Reading teacher and loved every minute of it. I can't wait to share some favorite novels and poems with my sixth graders and show them tricks to become better writers. I will also continue to teach a gifted and talented advisory class.

Before moving here, I taught for 25 years at EJ Moss Intermediate in Lindale ISD. Over the years I taught language arts, science, social studies, and was the 4th-6th grade gifted and talented teacher for my last three years there.

I am a Baylor University 1996 graduate--Sic 'em Bears--and grew up in the tiny town of Eastland in central Texas where my graduating class had a whopping 52 kids in it!

My husband Chris and I just celebrated our one year anniversary on July 22 and have four daughters and three grandchildren. We are one big happy blended family. My oldest, Kelsey (26 in Nov), lives in Killeen/Fort Cavazos with the love of her life, Otis, and their children, Eli (8 in Dec), Christina (6 in Dec), and Lincoln (will be one on Nov. 3). She's a school nurse where her kids attend and he's in the military. Right now he is deployed to Germany and Belgium until possibly July 2025. My youngest, Makenna (23 in Jan), lives with them to help as the kids' nanny and just got promoted in her role as a behavior therapist at a center for preK kids with autism. My bonus girls are Margeaux, a freshman at HHS and Blaique, a 3rd grader at East Elementary.

I enjoy family dinners at home (that usually include multiple neighborhood kids) but also like eating at our favorite Longview restaurants, such as Don Benito's and Bubba's 33. Our patio is our favorite spot where we have a perfect view of the sunset every night. We also love going to concerts in all different places and have been to see Brooks & Dunn/Reba McEntire (Las Vegas), Luke Combs/Ashley McBryde (Vegas), Jason Aldean/Gabby Barrett (Tulsa, OK), Journey/Toto (NOLA), Jason Aldean/Chase Rice (Nashville), Shenandoah/Billy Dean (Shreveport) and Bryan Adams/Joan Jett (Fort Worth) in the past two years. In October we will be going on our third cruise over fall break. This time we are headed to Cozumel, Mexico and Nassau and CocoCay, Bahamas. In addition to traveling, I like to read, especially historical nonfiction; complete jigsaw and Sudoku puzzles, and drink coffee on my patio. I love finding unique coffee mugs to add to my collection, as well as interesting stickers that fit my personality to add to my classroom desk.

I'm looking forward to another awesome year with Hallsville 6th graders!