Pictured Left to Right Above
Mrs. Harolyn Shimer - Woodwind Instructor
Haley Shimer is the Band Director at Deerlake Middle School. Originally from Tallahassee, she graduated from Leon High School before attending Florida State University where she earned her bachelors degree in Music Education. Mrs. Shimer taught for 6 years in Clay county (near Jacksonville, FL), then moved to Boulder, Colorado to obtain her Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado. After teaching there for one year, she moved back to Tallahassee. She taught at Wakulla Middle School for three and a half years before coming to Deerlake Middle School after the birth of her daughter, Corynn.
Mrs. Shimer is the current Chairman of the District 3 Florida Bandmasters Association. She has 2 cats (Poe and Aspen) and 1 dog (Tonks), and enjoys reading, scrapbooking, kayaking, and gardening.
Mr. Luke McManus - Percussion Instructor
Mr. McManus is the current director of bands at Montford Middle School and formerly held the same title at Riversprings Middle School in Wakulla County. Mr. McManus graduated in 2015 from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in instrumental music education. He studied both piano and percussion during his time at FSU and has gone on to teach both instruments privately during his teaching career. Percussionists in Mr. McManus' bands have routinely placed in the Big Bend All District Band and have found great success in other FBA events such as solo and ensemble. He is married to Elisa McManus, who also holds a music education degree, and the couple has a son named Eli. In his spare time (if there is ever any), Mr. McManus enjoys watching and playing sports, time with friends and family, the outdoors, and maybe the occasional video game.
Allison Smith - Drill Team Instructor
Allison Smith graduated from Chiles High School and is currently a student at Valdosta State University (VSU) where she is studying for her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. With this she plans on becoming a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Allison has been involved with the band since she was in middle school where she played flute for three years. Upon entering high school she exchanged the flute for a flag. While on the Chiles Drill Team she made the weapons line where she twirled rifle and sabre. She twirled flag for 3 years before joining the Chiles Baton Line. She is currently a majorette for VSU’s Blazin’ Brigade Marching Band.
Allison has choreographed flag routines for high schools, as well as baton solos for herself and other students. Along with choreographing and performing, Allison competes in twirling competitions where she most recently placed third in her division at the Southeast Regional Twirling Competition. Her favorite competition event is the Strut portion which incorporates twirling and dance.
Kassidy Barret - Drill Team Instructor
Kassidy Barrett graduated from Chiles high-school and this last spring graduated from Troy University with a degree in psychology with a minor in ABA. She plans to go back to get her masters in counseling specializing in working with veterans. Kassidy has been involved with band since middle school where she played Baritone for three years. Once entering high school she decided to give color guard a try, spinning flag for all four years as well as rifle. Kassidy also spun for Troy university’s Sound of the South for her freshman and sophomore year of college. Kassidy has choreographed solos for herself and audition pieces as well as been a judge for multiple different high-school tryouts.
Mrs. Harolyn Shimer - Woodwind Instructor
Haley Shimer is the Band Director at Deerlake Middle School. Originally from Tallahassee, she graduated from Leon High School before attending Florida State University where she earned her bachelors degree in Music Education. Mrs. Shimer taught for 6 years in Clay county (near Jacksonville, FL), then moved to Boulder, Colorado to obtain her Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Colorado. After teaching there for one year, she moved back to Tallahassee. She taught at Wakulla Middle School for three and a half years before coming to Deerlake Middle School after the birth of her daughter, Corynn.
Mrs. Shimer is the current Chairman of the District 3 Florida Bandmasters Association. She has 2 cats (Poe and Aspen) and 1 dog (Tonks), and enjoys reading, scrapbooking, kayaking, and gardening.
Mr. Luke McManus - Percussion Instructor
Mr. McManus is the current director of bands at Montford Middle School and formerly held the same title at Riversprings Middle School in Wakulla County. Mr. McManus graduated in 2015 from Florida State University with a bachelor's degree in instrumental music education. He studied both piano and percussion during his time at FSU and has gone on to teach both instruments privately during his teaching career. Percussionists in Mr. McManus' bands have routinely placed in the Big Bend All District Band and have found great success in other FBA events such as solo and ensemble. He is married to Elisa McManus, who also holds a music education degree, and the couple has a son named Eli. In his spare time (if there is ever any), Mr. McManus enjoys watching and playing sports, time with friends and family, the outdoors, and maybe the occasional video game.
Allison Smith - Drill Team Instructor
Allison Smith graduated from Chiles High School and is currently a student at Valdosta State University (VSU) where she is studying for her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. With this she plans on becoming a Registered Nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Allison has been involved with the band since she was in middle school where she played flute for three years. Upon entering high school she exchanged the flute for a flag. While on the Chiles Drill Team she made the weapons line where she twirled rifle and sabre. She twirled flag for 3 years before joining the Chiles Baton Line. She is currently a majorette for VSU’s Blazin’ Brigade Marching Band.
Allison has choreographed flag routines for high schools, as well as baton solos for herself and other students. Along with choreographing and performing, Allison competes in twirling competitions where she most recently placed third in her division at the Southeast Regional Twirling Competition. Her favorite competition event is the Strut portion which incorporates twirling and dance.
Kassidy Barret - Drill Team Instructor
Kassidy Barrett graduated from Chiles high-school and this last spring graduated from Troy University with a degree in psychology with a minor in ABA. She plans to go back to get her masters in counseling specializing in working with veterans. Kassidy has been involved with band since middle school where she played Baritone for three years. Once entering high school she decided to give color guard a try, spinning flag for all four years as well as rifle. Kassidy also spun for Troy university’s Sound of the South for her freshman and sophomore year of college. Kassidy has choreographed solos for herself and audition pieces as well as been a judge for multiple different high-school tryouts.