Highland Belles Director
2011 ~ present
Shannon Phillips was named Highland Park High School’s Belles Director May 5, 2011.
Mrs. Phillips brings nine years of experience as a high school dance and drill team director to Highland Park ISD. She comes to HPISD from Richardson ISD, where she served as director of the Desperados Country & Western Performance team at Richardson High School and as director of the Highlandette drill team at Lake Highlands High School. She also directed the Hyline dance team at Westlake High School in Eanes ISD. As a college student, she was captain and freshman sergeant of the legendary Kilgore College Rangerettes.
“Shannon has a history of excellence in leading dance and drill teams, beginning with her days a Rangerette and extending through her experience as the director of some of the top high school programs in Texas,” HPHS Principal Walter Kelly said. “She has consistently demonstrated the ability to combine the traditions of an existing program with the key elements of unity and teamwork among the ranks.”
Mrs. Phillips is also a staff member at Encore Creative Productions, where she worked annually on the Choreography & Pageantry Teams for the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic pregame and halftime performances. Over the years, she has supervised and assisted in the performances of thousands of young dancers in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in New York. Her high school dancers have appeared in the St. Patrick’s Parade in Dublin, Ireland, aboard the USS Missouri in Honolulu, and most recently, at Super Bowl XLV in Cowboys Stadium.
“I look forward to actively participating in the environment of excellence that is synonymous with HPISD,” Mrs. Phillips said. “It is with great respect that I join the Highland Belles organization and the strong legacy of women who have come before me. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to develop a relationship with each of the talented young ladies in the program.”
She earned her associate’s degree from Kilgore College and her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University.
Highland Belles Associate Director
2011 ~ present
Emily was named the first Assistant Director of the Highland Belles in 2011. She started dancing at the age of four and has extensive training in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Modern and Contemporary. She spent her childhood years studying at Dian Clough West Dance Studio and The Gayle Corkery School of Ballet in Fort Worth.
After graduating from Fort Worth Country Day in 1999, Emily furthered her dance education at Stephen F. Austin State University. She was a member of the Stephen F. Austin Repertory Dance Company for two years before transferring to Texas State University in San Marcos. In San Marcos, she was a member of the Orchesis Modern Dance Company for three years and served as Vice-President of the organization in 2004.
Emily graduated magna cum laude from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Dance with Secondary Teaching Certification and a minor in Psychology. Since graduating, she also obtained All-level Certification in Physical Education and a Masters of Education in School Counseling.
From 2006-2009, Emily worked at L.C. Anderson High School in Austin as a dance teacher and Assistant Director of the award-winning Trojan Belle Dance Team.
Emily is currently in her thirteenth year of teaching at Highland Park High School. She teaches Dance I and Yoga & Pilates courses.
Emily and her husband, Charlie, have four children-Ethan (21), Gavin (17), Isabella (8) and Jacob (7).
Highland Belles Assistant Director
2022 ~ present
Berkley Slover is honored to be joining the Highland Belles as an Assistant Director! Berkley joined the HPHS staff in 2020 and currently teaches Algebra 1. She received her Bachelors of Business Administration and Masters in Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. Some of Berkley’s dance experience includes being a member of The University of Texas Pom Squad and Captain of the Lake Highlands Highlandettes. Berkley choreographed the HPHS Fall musical in 2021 and was the sponsor for the Spirited Scots for the 2021-2022 school year. She has been married to her husband Seth for three years and enjoys spending time with her family and friends in Dallas. Berkley loves the spirit and community at HPHS and is incredibly excited to get to know each of the Belles!
