Meet the Directors

Director - Meredith Walraven

Meredith began her dance career at Steps and Broadway Dance Studios in the Garland area. While dancing competitively with Steps under the direction of Robin Mitchell and Teresa Price and Tempe Kirby at Broadway Dance Studio, she won numerous overall awards as well as solo awards. Her team at Broadway was selected to perform at the Maverick’s pre-game show. Meredith has performed in different cities such as San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Nashville, and Orlando.

Meredith attended Rockwall High School and was a part of the Stingerettes Varsity Drill Team under the direction of Melissa Holliman. While on the team, she was a member of the elite dance group, Showstoppers, and elite kick line, Kick Club, her sophomore through senior years. She was awarded Lieutenant her Junior year and Captain her Senior year. At the end of her senior year, she was awarded Best Dancer by the team.

She attended TCU in the fall of 2000 where she was a member of the TCU Showgirls. Meredith transferred from TCU to SFA where she was a part of the dance program. Her senior choreographic piece was selected to be presented in the Dance Repertory Showcase. She earned her BS in Dance and Speech Communication in May of 2004.

After completing her degree, Meredith received a position at Rowlett High School, where she was the Junior Varsity Drill Team Director and Assistant Varsity Director. She was at Rowlett from 2004-2007. In those three years, her teams won numerous state and national titles. Her JV team won three consecutive regional Best in Class team awards in the JV category. They were awarded the National title in JV teams her first year there and 3rd and 1st Runner Up the following two years.

Meredith has started her 14th year as Director of the Planoettes! The last thirteen years have been a huge success with numerous regional and 7 National Team titles along with 2 officer National Titles and an Elite Team National Title! Meredith is very blessed to be the director of this talented and dedicated group of ladies. She is very excited about continuing her tradition of excellence in her teams with the Planoettes. She is honored to have this position and hopes to continue the great traditions of the Planoettes for years to come!

Assistant Director - Caitlyn Dougherty

Caitlyn was born in Natick, Massachusetts and grew up in Plano, Texas. She graduated from Plano Senior High School in 2011, and is a former Planoette under the direction of Meredith Walraven.

Caitlyn graduated with honors in 2015 from the University of North Texas with a Bachelors of Fine Arts (BFA) in Dance and a General Business minor, magna cum laude. She represented the dance program as a Dance and Theatre Ambassador for two years; was the President of the Dance Honors Society, Chi Tau Epsilon; and was awarded Outstanding Student in the Honors College Ceremony.

Caitlyn started dance at the age of three, expanding her training in hip-hop, ballet, modern, contemporary, tap, jazz, improvisation, and partnering, as well as studying the artistry of creating choreography. During college, she started teaching dance and has continued for twelve years now. She created Groove Crew, a special needs dance team, at Fenton’s Dance Factory in 2011 and has directed the company for 11 years. In 2015, Caitlyn began working at My Possibilities, a day program for adults with disabilities – teaching dance, health, Special Olympics, and various other classes. In 2020, Caitlyn transitioned into the school district, starting in Richardson ISD, and now Plano ISD.

She has trained with Doug Varone and Dancers in New York, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company in California, and Garth Fagan and Danny Buraczeski in Texas. In 2012, Caitlyn began performing with Cholorock, a Latino-jazz and folkloric company. She later auditioned for a hip-hop company, Renegades Elite Company, and Pedestrian Dance Movement. Starting in 2018, Caitlyn started performing with Rev Crew through Dance Revolution, traveling to Orlando, Winston-Salem, and Chicago. She continues performing with them today.

Caitlyn is honored to be the Assistant Director of the Planoettes, continuing the love she has for dance, Plano Senior High, and working with amazing dancers! She is thrilled for the years to come and is ready to continue the tradition of excellence – Once a Planoette, Always a Planoette!