Calling Texas home for the last 29 years, Mrs.Gunnels is originally from Georgia and earned her B.S in Biology from Auburn University. 

She has been teaching science in Plano for 23 years, which has included positions at Bowman Middle School, Renner Middle School and Rice Middle School before coming to Academy High School in the fall of 2013. While at Renner, Mrs.Gunnels was team leader, science department chair, Teacher of the Year, STEM Award Finalist for the district, and given the Spirit of Renner award by the students. Mrs. Gunnels was an Academy Teacher of the Year Nominee and earned the Excellence in Teaching Award in 2017. She has served as biology facilitator, Scientific Research and Design facilitator, and is now serving as Campus Testing Coordinator. Mrs.Gunnels also supports the learners involved in NASA HUNCH and science fair.

Mrs.Gunnels has been married for 36 years and they have two children: Michael, who is a graduate of SMU with a biomedical engineering degree and works for DBR Consulting Engineers, and Mallory, who is a graduate of UTD and works for IBM.