Our Directors
Director: Chesney Garza
Chesney Garza graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a Bachelors of Science in Dance. She began her dance training at the age of two at Carolyn Ehman's Dance Academy studying all genres of dance. Chesney is a Ball High School Alumni and was a four-year Tornette. She was Social Officer Vice President, Jr, Lieutenant and Colonel. Throughout her college years, she committed to giving back to her Galveston community. She coached cheer for Gulf Coast Premier Football League, stage managed at Island ETC (east-end theatre company) and taught dance classes at Carolyn Ehman's Dance Academy.
While at SFA, Chesney was heavily involved in student engagement. Her passion was with Student Activities Association where she was both the Special Events Coordinator and the President of the organization. She received nominations for Student Leader of the Year and The SFA Way Award. She also received the Steve Westbrook award for outstanding leadership in SAA.
In college, she continued her dance career with the dance department at SFA studying jazz, modern, tap, improvisation, ballet dance history and world dance. While also taking dance classes she took secondary education classes which allowed her to experience the classrooms of Lufkin ISD and Nacogdoches ISD where she deepened her love for teaching.
She has been around this organization and community for most of her life. She is a Tornette alumni and was a former Tornette Colonel. Not only is she the Tornette director but, she is head of the fine arts dance department and she continues to help with the theatre arts department in her favorite district event of the year, 'All District Musical. She also enjoys helping oversee TUFFY, our wonderful Ball High School mascot. 2023-2024 will be her fourth year as the Tornette Director and she can't wait for many more years to come!
Assistant Director: Kryston Schilhab
Kryston Schilhab has just recently move to Galveston to get closer to the beach. She has moved here with her husband Jeff, 2 daughters Alex and Madi, and their fur babies. She started her dance career at the young age of 3 and became a professional dancer at the age of 15 with her first job at Six Flags, Astroworld in the Bugs Bunny Follies.
Soon after she went on to receive Miss Drill Team Texas and then moved to Chicago to finish her dancing career. In Chicago she studied at The Chicago Academy for Performing arts where she studied musical theatre and dance. There she also became a choreographer and costume designer. Soon after she graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelors of Science in Education and a minor in Theatre.
Kryssy has been teaching for over 20 years in Texas at the high school and middle school levels. Her most recent place was Lawson Middle School in HISD. Her favorite memory as a dance teacher was being able to perform with Lady Gaga at the Super Bowl 51 halftime show. She has just finished her first year teaching dance at central and being the assistant director with the Tornettes. She is excited to see what her future holds in GISD.
