About Us

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Mark Edwards, Director of Brandon Bands

Hi! My name is Mark Edwards.

I am entering my 7th year at Brandon as Director of Bands. Previously I was a band director at Kosciusko, Enterprise, and Warren Central Schools. I also currently serve on staff at the MS Lions Allstate Band. I am a member of the Mississippi Band Directors Association and the East Central MS Band Directors Association. I have a Bachelor’s of Music Education degree from Mississippi State University and a Masters degree from Mississippi College in Educational Leadership. I have a beautiful wife (Amy) and 3 great children (Jackson, Marley, Graham). We leave on a farm and have 1 dog (McKay) and 5 chickens. When not doing band, I enjoying attending church at Crossgates Baptist in Brandon and playing golf! 

Brandon Band Boosters

The Brandon Band Booster Club is the support organization for the band directors and students of the Brandon High School and Middle School bands. Our support typically functions through fundraising and volunteering “back stage.” the Boosters are lead by an elected Executive Committee who organize the work of the Boosters in conjunction with the leadership of the band directors.

 

Please scroll down to learn more about our leadership team.

Kevin Mullen, Assistant Band Director of Brandon High School

Michelle Green, Director of Eighth Grade Band

Kevin Mullen is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s of Music Education.

 

He has taught band 6th – 12th grade at Warren Central for seven years working with the marching band, symphonic band, concert band, jazz ensemble, and middle school groups. He also has experience throughout the years with arranging and composing for various ensembles, drum corps experience, and is a current member of ASBDA.

 

Me is married to Kansas Mullen with a daughter on the way in late August, their golden retriever Daisy, and their two cats Leo and Loki. Mr. Mullen is excited for this new chapter and his eighth year teaching at Brandon!

Mrs. Michelle Green is beginning her 22nd year as an assistant band director at Brandon. For her entire tenure at Brandon, she has conducted the 8th Grade Band and taught 6th grade clarinet and saxophone classes. She has also conducted both the Brandon High School Varsity Band and Concerts Band in recent years. Prior to being at Brandon, Mrs. Green had taught a total of 8 years in Starkville, Columbus, and West Point.

 

Mrs. Green graduated from Mississippi State University with a degree in Instrumental Music Education. While at MSU, she participated in the Famous Maroon Band, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Clarinet Choir.

 

Mrs. Green has been married to her husband, Byron, for 29 years. Her family includes a daughter, son, son-in-law, and granddaughter. She loves spending time with her family and being involved in church activities.

Bre’ Lyn Morgan, Assistant Director of Brandon Middle School & Color Guard Director

Bre’ Lyn Morgan is a graduate of the University of Mississippi from which she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. She later earned her Master’s Degree in Music Education from William Carey University. 

 

Mrs. Morgan began her teaching career in 2019 as an assistant band director at Quitman High School . She moved to Pontotoc High School in 2021 to return home and teach at her alma mater. She has been part of the Lions Band tech staff for four years and has been blessed with several opportunities to travel outside the country with the ensemble.

 

Mrs. Morgan has been married to her husband, Brannon, since April 2024 and in her free time she enjoys running, shopping, and spending time with her mom, Ginger, and her brother, Coda.

J.D. Dunklee, Assistant Director of Brandon Middle School & Percussion Director

Mr. Dunklee is set to lead all percussion activities at both the high school and middle school levels. Though he is embarking on his first year of teaching, he brings a wealth of experience and notable achievements from his extensive teaching a performance career across the South. He has served as adjunct staff at various high schools in Mississippi and Louisiana, and has made a significant impact as an educator in the WGI percussion community. As the Battery Coordinator for St. Martin Independent, he guided the ensemble to secure bronze in 2022 and a silver medal in 2023 for Independent A Class.


In addition to his professional pursuits, Mr. Dunklee enjoys a variety of personal interests, including playing disc golf, engaging in video games, and exploring the mountains and trails of Colorado through hiking. He also cherishes spending time watching movies with his cat, Mellow, and his girlfriend, Monica.


With his diverse background and passion for percussion education, Mr. Dunklee is poised to inspire and elevate the percussion program to new heights!

Band Booster Executive Board

Brandon Band Directors

Jeffrey Dickerson, President

My name is Jeffrey Dickerson. I manage an in-house dental laboratory for Tharp, Klaus and Kelly Dental Clinic in Flowood  called 3D Studio MS. My son, Jayden, has been a member of Brandon Bands since 6th grade. He started off on a trumpet, and within a few months auditioned for percussion, where he has been ever since. Jayden’s love of all things band has no bounds. That being the case, I have supported him fully and dove into doing whatever I could to help. 

 

I currently serve as the BBBC vice-president, and will be transitioning into the president role for the next school year. The Booster Club is a vital organization to help ensure the success of Brandon Bands. We largely help organize all of the fundraisers throughout the year, from sponsorships, to running the concession stand, to band chicken! I take pride in helping make sure things are ran the way they should be, and fostering a culture where all of our parent volunteers feel like one big family. Hopefully this next school year will be the best one yet for Brandon Bands, as we are set to provide whatever help necessary to make that happen. Thank you for your consideration. Go Dogs! 

Cassie Burnette, Vice President

My name is Cassie Burnette. I am over half way through the 7 year “sentence” of being a band/guard parent, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of watching my daughter, Piper, participate in marching band, concert band, and color guard. My husband, Scott, claims to be her biggest fan, and I agree to disagree as long as he agrees to share the load of volunteering in concession stand duties, practice drop offs and pick ups, and all the other things I never considered when signing that participation form. These have been some of the best years of memories that I will cherish forever. Not only being actively involved in our child’s life and there to encourage her but also meeting new parents while working concessions, volunteering for work days to get things ready for the season, fundraisers, and hosting competitions at the school. 

 

  Our family works as a team and we have found that good communication and the right attitude can move mountains. I believe each and every person can contribute something to make things greater no matter how small it is. The Brandon Band Boosters offers so many opportunities for our children that I simply want to volunteer my time to help be a part of the happiness, memories, and success that our program creates.

Anna Roberts, Treasurer

I have been part of the band family for six year now, first with my son Cody and now with my daughter, Brooklyn Roberts.  I am married to Shane Roberts and have lived in Brandon for over twenty years.  I work at TRIO Community Meals where we provide meals for senior citizens through programs like Meals on Wheels all across the USA.  Shane is a detective for the Pelahatchie Police Department.  

 

I believe in giving back to the community whenever you can, so I am doing my part by running for Booster Treasurer.  Although I do not work in finance now, I have more than twenty-five years of experience in finance and accounting.  I have a high level of expertise when it comes to banking, finance, systems, and processes.  I intend to work with the other booster leaders to help put processes in place to ensure our band family stays financially sound for years to come. 

Jennifer Sheffield, Secretary

I am a recent graduate with a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences and am currently applying to medical school.  I have been gaining lots of clinical experience in the UMMC ER for over a year now and have found a new love for people and challenging scenarios throughout my time there.  Any free time I have is spent reading, gardening, crafting, and spending an unnecessary amount of time in Barnes and Noble with Gracie. 

 

Throughout the last band season, I have been as closely involved as I can.  Beginning with Friday nights spent in the concession stand, I have had the opportunity to learn more about the functions behind the scenes and how much work it takes to make it all happen.

 

My goal in becoming an officer is to be more closely involved with the band and learning how things work in order to be able to help more efficiently.  I feel like my organization and people skills could really help with the flow of the program and encouraging more parents to become involved where needed throughout the season.

Shereen Samaan, Middle School Representative

Born and raised in Damascus, Syria so I am a native Arabic speaker. Moved to the U.S.in 2010. Later on, I pursed my master’s degree on finance from Mississippi College and shortly after I became a real estate Agent at Weichert Realtors, Innovations.

I am a wife and a mom of two beautiful daughters. Outside of Real Estate, I’ll be working out, running errands and driving our girls to see their horse in Florence.

 

Salma and Sela my daughters are actively involved in the Brandon band program. I enjoy supporting them and their band mates in showcasing their talents. I have previously helped in the BMS’s concessions stand to support the students involved. I feel being involved with the Booster program is vital to the growth and leadership the band provides to students and athletes. As a member, I can offer my time and skills in various capacities such as organizing fundraising, assisting with events planning, or even chaperoning for trips and competitions.

 

Being a people person myself and a licensed realtor allows me to meet with a lot of Individuals and business owners. Using my connections could be very helpful in assisting in corporate sponsorships that will provides the financial support and growth of the booster club.

James Chaisson, Assistant Treasurer

We are James and Betsy Chaisson. We will have 1 child in the high school band next year. Meredyth, a sophomore, plays French Horn. Our son, Caleb, will graduate in May. We have been involved in the Brandon band program for the past 7 years.

 

James has been a Project Manager for Suncoast Infrastructure located in Florence for the past 22 years where he is responsible for estimating, budgeting, and managing the construction of multi-faceted projects. Betsy is a 4th grade teacher at Brandon Elementary. She has taught for RCSD for 15 years and in the Brandon zone for the past 8 years. 

 

Our vision for the Brandon Band Booster Club is to continue to support Mr. Edwards and staff in building off of the success of the past couple of years. As current Treasurer, and past Asst. Treasure of the Booster Club, I (James) have gained a much greater understanding and appreciation for what it takes to manage what is essentially a small business. My goal, along with the help of many other willing parents, is to continue to develop and refine ways to give our student’s the best and most rewarding band experience possible.

Scheduled Events

October 25, 2024
October 26, 2024
October 27, 2024
November 1, 2024
November 2, 2024
November 7, 2024
November 8, 2024
November 14, 2024