CHRISTY TRUSSELL
 I have always loved flowers. As a kid, I would beg my mother to take me to a Flower shop (or anywhere they sold fresh flowers). my family Always knew they would make my day by bringing me flowers for special occasions. i had the opportunity to begin the floral design program at dripping springs high school in the fall of 2o17. in the fall of 2019 I earned my Certified floral designer (CFD) certification through the AIFD, which is a worldwide professional organization for floral designers. Prior to my CFD Certification, I completed all my coursework at the Benz School of Floral Design at Texas A&M University in college station. 
 The DSHS Floral Design and Hospitality program is still pretty young, but we have the benefit of living in "The wedding capital of texas." I love to bring in special event florists in our area to give my students insight and professional advice. I have several students working locally in the floral/hospitality industry.

Educational Background
 I earned a B.F.A degree in Speech Communication from Southwest Texas State University, where I was a member of the Elton Abernathy Forensic Society and the LBJ Debate Society. I was also a member of Pi Kappa Delta, the National Forensic Honor Society. 
 I competed in collegiate speech and debate events for four years, where I won numerous awards in Texas Intercollegiate Forensic Association (TIFA) competitions. I also competed throughout Texas and the nation at numerous invitational tournaments and at national tournaments, including the Johnson County Community College Junior Varsity National tournament (1993), the Pi Kappa Delta National tournament (1995) and Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) Nationals in 1994, 1995 and 1996.
Professional Honors and Activities
 I was honored at the Conference on Texas Excellence in Education by the Texas Exes Awards for Outstanding Teachers as a ‘Rising Star’ in Education in 2000. 
Teaching Background
 i am in my 25th year of teaching at the high school level, and my seventeenth year at Dripping Springs High School. I previously taught at Westlake High School in Austin and Calallen High School in Corpus Christi.
 i have also taught Communication Applications, Professional Communications, Public Speaking, Oral Interpretation, Debate I – Debate IV, English I, Small animal Management, equine science and advanced animal science.