Rhonda Whelchel is returning to the Gainesville City School family after a one year hiatus at Winder Barrow High School. She graduated from East Hall High School in 1987 where she played basketball for the Lady Vikings for four years. Rhonda was later inducted into the East Hall Hall of Fame. She attended Piedmont College where she played for the Lady Lions; she received a Bachelors Degree in Middle Grades Education. Currently she is completing her Masters in Secondary Education at Grand Canyon University.

            Coach Whelchel’s first year as a coach started as a basketball assistant for both GMS and GHS. The following year she coached the 7^th grade girls and went on to have a perfect undefeated season. That year was followed by coaching the GHS Girls Freshman team (1 year), later the GHS Girls JV team (2 years), and being an assistant under Manson Hill. During her year away from BIG RED country, she was an assistant for Brenda Hill at Winder Barrow High School. In addition, she was the head JV girls coach. Rhonda has also helped to run the Parks and Recreation Basketball camp held at GHS run by Coach Hill.

Rhonda will be teaching ESOL-Social Studies and Language Arts/Reading as well as coaching the 7^th grade Lady Elephants’ basketball team. She is overjoyed to be back and looking forward to being a part of such a wonderful school family.