By Angelo Piersanti

The Shelton School has been serving the DFW area since 1976. Consecutive generations of families have attended our school, made lifelong friends, and contributed to our success in multitudinous ways. Matthew Rapier, Shelton Class of 2014 alumnus, and Morgan Rapier, Shelton Upper School History teacher, are one of those families.

When Matthew’s needs were not being met in traditional school, his parents transferred him to Shelton by the first grade. He fondly recalls our welcoming environment and supportive teachers, including memories of seeing Shelton School Founder, Dr. June Shelton, around the old campus. Over the years, Matthew participated in theater, football, soccer and choir, which were the perfect outlets for his physicality and creativity. Matthew attended Shelton through twelfth grade.

Matthew was finishing college, and Morgan was in the middle of a teaching internship when they met through a dating app. This led to some long talks, a first date, and eventually marriage. The couple later settled in Plano with their two cats and first child, Mary Alice, who was born last September. Morgan and Matthew recently reminisced on how overcoming setbacks has brought them closer and made them stronger. 

For example, a fire destroyed most of their belongings while they were away on their honeymoon. This unexpected hardship proved to be a defining moment in their relationship. Starting a life together can be difficult enough, but starting from scratch gave them a new perspective on what is essential. This includes building a relationship of trust, communicating clearly and honestly, and leaning on each other’s strengths. 

The little things, like Matthew’s ability to make Morgan laugh and Morgan's ability to find joy all around her, are what they appreciate most. These are also a poignant reminder of what cannot be taken away. Knowing they can absolutely rely on one another has bolstered their confidence in their ability to confront whatever else they may encounter in the future, no matter how difficult. Morgan and Matthew’s relationship also affected their career paths. 

With Morgan’s encouragement to pursue his dreams, Matthew currently works in business development. With Matthew’s influence, Morgan gained a deeper understanding of people with learning differences, far more than she gleaned from her education courses or teacher training. This led to her applying for a position in Shelton’s Upper School, where she has worked since 2019. Today, her experience and compassion continue to shape her approach to teaching.

Morgan and Matthew take great pride in their Shelton connections. Matthew still answers when Shelton calls, whether speaking to a group of parents or sitting down for an interview. Some of Matthew’s best friends are the ones he met early on at Shelton. This tight-knit circle of friends now includes Morgan, and this addition has created fresh opportunities to renew their Shelton bonds. As for Morgan and Matthew, this dynamic duo is ready for whatever may come next.