New teacher helps high school band get swagger back

Yahoo

01-04-2025

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – There's something to be said about someone who can come into a space and change it for the better. That recently happened at Brindlee Mountain High School.
The person who nominated Hunter Shell for Hoover's Heroes says he has worked his magic and completely transformed the band program at the Title I school. Hunter did it by caring about what he does for the students and his co-workers.
When Hunter arrived in the fall of 2023, the band program was struggling.
'So, when I came in, I had 18 kids in the sixth through 12th grade program. I was told the truth about everything. They needed someone to come in and help them get them going,' Hunter said.
A dwindling roster of students wasn't the only problem. Morale was also down.
'That actually was a problem. All the drama when he came over,' says paraprofessional Steven Sims.
Student Mollie Tolton agrees.
'We were kind of in our separate groups, not like a team but this year in the past two years he's made us one big family,' Mollie says.
That was a big task for a band that didn't sound so great, didn't march too well, and with students not getting along. The new band director was up to the challenge.
'Building relationships with the kids. If you know each kid, you know when you can get harsh on a kid or when you don't need to get harsh on a kid. It's kind of like parenting,' says Hunter.
'He just brings the best out of them. He's actually helped them grow and be more confident while playing,' says Sims.
The newfound confidence has helped the band get its swagger back, and now they're back racking up the awards at competitions.
'We're a smaller band so we're competing in the 18 division, but that was the first contest they've been to and won awards for superior ratings in over 10 years,' Hunter said.
'Now we're getting ones and we're actually getting the best in class,' Sims added.
So, as it goes, success breeds success, and other students started to take notice.
'Now in 6th through 12th we have roughly 60 kids so that's really quadruple the size,' Hunter says.
The results are helping more students to see a brighter future.
'It's helped me become who I am and made me want to do music education for my career. He's helped me come out of my shell,' says Mollie.
It's certainly paying off. Recently at the Alabama Bandmasters Music Performance Assessment, Brindlee Mountain High's wind ensemble received superior ratings.
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