Bulldog Brigade Staff

Mr. Jessie Morlan - Director of Bands

THOMSON HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2007-2008

Mr. Jessie W. Morlan has taught in the Mcduffie County school system since 1995. He is a graduate of The University of South Carolina, where he served as principal trumpet in many ensembles. He currently serves as Commander and Bandmaster of the 246th Army National Guard Band stationed in Columbia, South Carolina. With the Army Band, he has toured such places as Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, and many other states throughout the US. Mr. Morlan's military experiences include:

United States Marine Corp Bootcamp - Parris Island, SC- Graduated August 14, 1992
USMC Marine Reserve - 4th FSSG Donaldson Center Greenville, SC 1992-1993
Transfer to the South Carolina Army National Guard - 1993 Awarded MOS 02B
Primary Leadership Development Course -July 1997
Warrant Officer Candidate School- Ft. Rucker, Alabama - August 1999
Warrant Officer Basic Course - ASOM - June 2001 - Awarded MOS 420C

His Military Awards consist of:

Army Commendation Medal - w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster (Awarded 2 times)
Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal - w/ 3 Oak leaf Clusters ( Awarded 4 times)
National Defense Service Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal - w/1 Bronze Hour Glass (Denotes completion of at least 10 years of service)
NCO Professional Development Ribbon
Army Service Ribbon
SC Active State Service Medal
SC Palmetto Service Ribbon
SC Governor's Citation Ribbon - Unit Award

Click HERE for a description of each award .

Mr. Morlan is in constant demand as a clinician, performer and judge in the southeast. As Director Of Bands, Mr. Morlan supervises the entire band program in McDuffie County. His Primary ensembles are the THS Bulldog Brigade Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, Guitar Ensemble, Children at Play Pop Band and the Honors Ensemble. Under his direction, the band program has recieved many Superior and Excellent ratings in the the areas of Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Band. The band has also performed in Hawaii, Florida, Virginia, South Carolina and throughout Georgia under his leadership.

Mr. Morlan has been included in "Who's Who Among American Teachers" many times. He has also been recognized by Thomson High School as the THOMSON HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2007-2008, a Mentor/ Master Teacher - 2000 thru Current, Renaissance Program Student Recognized Outstanding teacher - 7 times in 2006-2007, "Top Dog" of the month -2005,a Renaissance Program Honor Graduate Recognized Teacher (Recognized by Ali Mays in 2005), Teacher of the Month THS- 1999, and Teacher of the Month TMS -1996 . He also recieved the Teacher Support Specialist endorsement in 2006. Mr. Morlan's professional affiliations include GMEA, MENC, Honorary lifetime member of Tri-M Music Fraternity, National Guard Association and The Warrant Officer Corps Association. He resides in Grovetown, GA with his wife Becky and daughters Courtney and Jessica.

Ms. Emme Hines - Assistant High School Band Director

Ms. Emme L. Hines is in her 6th year of teaching at Thomson High School. She moved here from Hartsville, South Carolina where she taught at Hartsville Junior High School for 3 years. Ms. Hines graduated from Converse College in 1999 with a degree in Instrumental Music Education. While at Converse she was principal oboist in various ensembles and participated in community concerts and events. Ms. Hines’ professional affiliations include Lifetime Honorary member of TRI M music Fraternity, GMEA, SCMEA, MENC, and SCBDA.

Mr. Bradley Pirkle - Middle School Band Director

Mr. Bradley Pirkle will begin his 7th year as Thomson Middle School Band Director this Fall. He graduated cum laude from Valdosta State University in Spring 2001 with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. Also a graduate of Thomson High School in 1997, Mr. Pirkle was a member of the 1997 Georgia All-State Band. As a music major at VSU, he served as the Trumpet Section Leader from 1999-2001 and was the Principle trumpet player in the VSU Wind Ensemble for two years. As a senior, he was awarded the Phi Betu Mu Outstanding Instrumental Education Award. Mr. Pirkle was selected to play 1st Trumpet and performed with the 2001 International Youth Wind Orchestra (IYWO) at the WASBE Conference in Lucerne, Switzerland. The World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) meets every two years for a convention in selected world cities. Fifty members from 9 different countries, selected by audition, performed in the IYWO, their ages ranging from 18 - 25. His professional affiliations include GMEA, MENC, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Mr. Trent Henderson - Assistant Middle School Band Director

Mr. Trent Henderson is in his 12th year of teaching music in the state of Georgia. Mr. Henderson is a 1992 graduate of Thomson High School and a 1996 graduate of the University of Georgia where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Music Education. He was a member of the Redcoat Marching Band, Basketball Pep Band and Jazz Band II at UGA. Previously Mr. Henderson held positions in Richmond, Wilkes and Treutlen counties. His professional affiliations include the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Georgia Music Educator.

Mrs. Becky Morlan - Auxiliary Coordinator

Mrs. Morlan is in her 13^th year of teaching kindergarten. She currently teaches at J.A. Maxwell Elementary in Thomson, Georgia. She received her Early Childhood degree from Georgia College in Milledgeville and Masters Degree from Augusta State University. Mrs. Morlan is a Nationally Certified Teacher with a Teacher Support Specialist Certificate and a Reading Endorsement. You can visit Mrs. Morlan’s kindergarten web site at: www.morlansbeehive.net

Mrs. Morlan began baton twirling lessons in the first grade and continued to twirl throughout high school. She twirled on the field with the band as well as participated in competition twirling events. In 1990, Mrs. Morlan earned the title of “Miss Majorette of Georgia” in her division. She was fortunate enough to travel to the University of Notre Dame twice to compete on a National level in the “World National Twirling Competitions.” In college, Mrs. Morlan danced on the Georgia College dance team. She currently teaches twirling lessons to girls three years of age and up. This is her 9^th year as director of “The Sparklers.” Mrs. Morlan is in her 6^th year as Auxiliary director for the Thomson High School “BULLDOG BRIGADE” and Thomson Middle School Band.

Mrs. Morlan has also choreographed several musicals for the Thomson High School Bulldog Players. Those musical include “The Music Man,” “Guys and Dolls,” and “CATS.”

Mrs. Morlan’s Teaching Awards and Accomplishments:

National Certified Teacher
2007 J.A. Maxwell Teacher of the Year
Renaissance Outstanding Teacher Honor Graduate Recognition - Recognized by Elizabeth Watson in 2007
Honored in the 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th Editions of Who’s Who Among American High School Students
Teaching Idea posted in the 2007 April Mailbox Magazine (A National Teaching Magazine!)
Received 2007 Teacher Incentive Grant to create “Busy Bee Tunes”
2006 September McDuffie Mirror Mentor Teacher
Received 2006 Teacher Incentive Grant to implement “Hot Dots”
Received 2005 Teacher Incentive Grant to create “Discovery Bags”
2005 November McDuffie Mirror Mentor Teacher
2005 September “Top Dog” for Maxwell Elementary

Mrs. Morlan’s professional organizations include PAGE and Delta Kappa Gamma. She has presented at several state and regional conferences such as: Phi State Delta Kappa Gamma State Convention, The League of Professional School’s Conference, Georgia’s Reading Consortium’s Reading Conference, and the Southeast Regional International Reading Conference.

Mrs. Morlan is married to Mr. Jessie Morlan. They reside in Grovetown with their two children Courtney and Jessica.

Mr. Richard Williams - Percussion Coach

Mr. Richard Williams is in his 7th year as Percussion Coach of the Bulldog Brigade. He works fulltime as a guidance counselor for Thomson High School and has devoted much of his time to the band program. Mr. Williams is retired from the Army and his last duty station was at Ft. Riley, Kansas with the “Big Red One.”

Mr. Williams graduated from Augusta State University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology. He went on to receive a Masters of Education (Counseling and Guidance) form Augusta State. While here at Thomson High, he has earned an Educational Specialist Degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate Tennessee.

Mr. Williams started taking private drum lessons at the age of ten. His musical experiences include: his high school band program. Three years marching with the Royales Drum and Bugle Corps from Eatontown, N.J. One year with DCI founding Corps, St. Andrews Bridgemen (Shakos) of Bayonne, N.J. He spent many years playing in small bands around the world with his army buddies.