Chiles Band Staff

Phone: 488-1756

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Bachelor of Music degree in School Music Master of Music Education Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership

Mr. Mike German - Director of Bands

Mr. German, a trumpet player, initiated all of the music programs at Lawton Chiles High School in 1999 having taught Band, Chorus, Class Guitar and Class Piano at Chiles’ in that same year. Mr. German is in his 36rd year of teaching in the public schools of Georgia and Florida. He has taught grades 5-12 in the areas of band, chorus, and general music, class piano, class guitar, AP Music Theory and Digital Information Technology. Prior to his appointment at Chiles, Mr. German taught at Dr. Philips HS and Oak Ridge HS in Orlando and Bowden HS and Claxton HS in GA. He is currently the Director of Bands at Lawton Chiles High School where he conducts and teaches all band classes and Math for Data Financial Literacy and an after-school jazz band, percussion ensemble, and The Timberwolf Marching Band. Mr. German currently serves on the Chiles SAC, K-12 Articulation  Hospitality Committee, and has served on the  Hospitality Committee and Site Committee. He is the Current Chairman of the Business Advisory Council and Fine Arts Department Chair.


He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in School Music from Georgia Southern University, a Master of Music Education Degree, and a Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership with a Major in Ed. Leadership/Administration both from The Florida State University. He has completed additional coursework in Music Theory Pedagogy, has received Level II Certification in Guitar Instruction by (NAMM) National Association of Music Merchants and (GAMA)Guitar Accessories Marketing Association and is MS Word 2013 Certified. Mr. German piloted the AP Music Theory textbook titled The Musicians Guide to Theory and Analysis by Clendinning and West-Marvin.


Under his direction, the Chiles High School Band Program has earned numerous Superior ratings in the areas of Marching, Concert and Jazz Assessments. He was recognized as Florida’s representative in an article titled “50 Directors that Make a Difference in Students’ Lives” for the December 2006 issue of School Band and Orchestra Magazine. In 2011, the Chiles Band earned the prestigious Otto J. Kraushaar Award from the Florida Bandmasters Association. Mr. German conducted the world premiere of “Mysterious Presence,” by Robert Thurston with the Lawton Chiles Wind Ensemble. Mr. German has recorded several CDs of the Chiles Band produced by Lifeline Audio & Entertainment, LLC. Additionally, Mr. German has conducted orchestras for the Gershwin musicals - Crazy for You, Cinderella, and Hello Dolly. Mr. German has served as Instrumental Director for Fiddler on the Roof, The Boy Friend, and The Music Man. Mr. German has also provided guitar accompaniment for children's choirs at both Wildwood and Deerlake United Methodist Church.
Mr. German is an active member of NAfME, FMEA, and the FBA. He is a member of Gamma Beta Phi (Honor and Service Fraternity) and Pi Kappa Lambda (National Music Honor Society). He has served as District III Chairman and District III Secretary for the FBA and has served as a regular host of the Big Bend All District Honor Band. He is in demand as an Adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association in the areas of Marching, Concert, and Jazz performance and for private competitions in the Tri-State area.


Mr. German enjoys composing, arranging, and performing various styles of music. Mr. German has been married for 36 years and has two children, a dog and eight fish. He enjoys time with family, fishing, swimming, playing Frisbee and pickleball, making music, and has started a small garden.


Phone: 488-1756

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

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.

Phone: 488-1756

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

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. 

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Ms. 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. 

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Ms. 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 the 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. 

Last Modified on August 17, 2023