Staff

Travis W. Kimber - Band Director, Valdosta High School

Travis W. Kimber is beginning his 24th year as a music educator and his 2nd year as the Director of Bands at Valdosta High School. Bands under Mr. Kimber’s direction have traveled the world performing at prestigious events locally regionally, nationally, and internationally by marching band, concert band, and jazz band. From 2001 – 2019 Mr. Kimber served as the Director of Bands at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School in Lithonia, GA. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Marching Band, better known as the "Kings of Halftime" became the first American marching band to perform in Johannesburg, South Africa. The band served as the exhibition band for the 2006 Field Band Foundations South African National Championships. The “Kings of Halftime” also participated in the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA and were bestowed the honor of being the lead band/step-off band.

Andrew Hill - Assistant Band Director, Valdosta High School

Andrew Hill is the Assistant Director of Bands and Jazz Ensemble director at Valdosta High School. He is a talented trombone player who is also a trained singer. A Tift County High School honor graduate, he studied at Abraham Baldwin College in Tifton and gained his Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 2003 and a Master of Music Education Degree in 2004 from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, GA...

Arthur Adkins - Band Director, JL Newbern Middle School

Arthur James Adkins III is currently the band director at Newbern Middle School. He is a native of Adel, where he attended Cook High School Class of 2004. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Valdosta State University in 2010. Mr. Adkins is currently enrolled at Post University Waterbury CT, Master of Human Services/ Clinical Counseling. He has previously taught at Dublin High School, Dublin, GA 2015-2019, Sumter Middle School 2012-2015 Americus, GA Daugherty Middle School, Albany, GA 2011-2012. Mr. Adkins is married to Tiffany Adkins and father to Terri Adkins.

Johnny Brown - Band Director, Valdosta Middle School

Band Director Valdosta Middle School.

Joy Grimsley - Assistant Band Director Valdosta Middle School

Joy Grimsley is the current Assistant Director of Bands at Valdosta Middle School. A graduate of Berkmar High School in Lilburn, Georgia, she earned both her Bachelor of Music Education and Master’s of Science in Education from Troy University in 1996 and 1997, respectively. While at Troy, she participated in the...

Julie Savoie - Band Director, Valdosta Early College Academy

Band Director Valdosta Early College Academy.

Karen Cook - Dance Instructor

Mrs. Cook studied under America’s finest dance masters including the late Eugene Loring, Donald McKayle, Marion Scott, Isreal El’ Gabriel, Alwin Nikolais, Bella Lewinsky, and Jamie Rogers. She was able to study and perform with some of Los Angeles’ finer contemporary modern dance companies...

Keisha Thomas - Color Guard Instructor

Keisha D. Thomas is the Color Guard Instructor for the Valdosta High School Marchin’ Cats. Mrs. Thomas works at the General Music teacher at J. L. Lomax elementary school. She graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 2003 and Master of Music ...