Funny story on the way to a 41-year career in public education, Lisa Fuller says. She originally had designs on being an FBI agent.
She had a plan. Go to Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H.; Fuller felt attending school in the northeast, close to FBI’s headquarters in Quantico, Va., would be beneficial. Anyway, Dartmouth came with its own ski mountain (it still does!) and sounded like a good idea at the time.
Instead, Fuller’s father was headed out of the country because of a transfer and he insisted his daughter remain in Texas. That’s how she found her way to Nacogdoches, first at Stephen F. Austin State University, then the high school where she has spent her professional career teaching and coaching a generation of students, including the last 25 years as head of the Dragonettes, the school’s award-winning drill team.
Along the way, Fuller has filled the role of assistant principal, director of extracurricular activities and a UIL coordinator while also teaching math. She was also cheerleading coach for 11 years. “The cheerleaders and their parents hold a special place in my heart.”
“Every year I’ve tried to learn what’s important to the students,” Fuller said during a break in practice last month leading up to her final Dragonette Spring Show. This year’s production took place last week and was appropriately named, “The Last Dance.”
“You have to adapt to what’s needed,” she said.
At the same time Fuller is stepping down, another NHS teacher with 40 years experience is leaving too. Dr. Katherine Whitbeck will be retiring at the same time. And, for a period of time, Whitbeck helped with the drill team. “Katherine was great, she could see the whole stage,” Fuller said.
While the Dragonettes have dominated her time the last several years, Fuller’s 41 years at NHS have included a wide range of class assignments and roles, including campus administration.
Fuller came to Nacogdoches to attend Stephen F. Austin State University, and like many before and after, never left. She earned her degree at SFA in 1984 then returned for a master’s degree 20 years later.
Becoming director of the Dragonettes happened because Fuller stepped in when the program was nearing dissolution. She took on the challenge and has guided it to even greater heights.
“I want these girls to look back and see great memories,” said Fuller. “They learn leadership. It’s the girls who take care of the team and build great team chemistry.”
It’s also the members of the drill team choreographing most of the routines… those for Friday nights in the fall and for their main stage productions, such as the spring show and the annual Christmas performance.
Fuller shares the credit with her team of assistants; those include Bailey Jo Davis, Andi Howell and all the boosters who provide support each year as well as Adrienne Bay Aul, a former drill team member who was also an assistant to Fuller at one time and choreographed a dance this year for the Dragonettes.
Fuller said her husband Craig – who she calls the best baseball coach in East Texas – children and seven grandchildren also provide important support at home. And while Fuller didn’t attend Nacogdoches High School her husband, oldest son Eric, daughter Jordan and oldest granddaughter, Audrey, are all graduates.
And when Fuller’s retirement is official at the end of the school year it will be Davis – the former Dragonette – taking over. Another former Dragonette, Torie Langford, is directing the drill team at McMichael Middle School and teaching dance there.
“I’m really excited to see her leading this program,” Fuller said.
Davis’s ascent to Dragonette director goes even further to cement Fuller’s legacy.
“I learned early on to let the kids have ownership,” Fuller said.