Bong Approved As New Band Director

​Brooke Bong was approved as the new Band Director at Jackson County High School Thursday night by the Jackson County Board of Education. 

Bong is currently the Director of Bands at Dacula High School in Gwinnett County. She will begin her duties at JCHS this summer. 

“We are excited to welcome Ms. Bong as the new Band Director at JCHS,” principal Melissa Gillspie said. “Ms. Bong brings outstanding experience and a passion for music.  Her dedication to student success and musical excellence makes her a fantastic addition to our team. We can’t wait to see the incredible energy and leadership Ms. Bong will bring to our amazing band community. “

Bong said the opportunity to work inside Jackson County, a community she and her husband call home, while leading an award-winning band program like Jackson County was too good of an opportunity to pass by. 

“I have worked with the Jackson County band before; I had done their drum major tryouts, and I had heard how great the school is, and how great the band students are,” Bong said. “It was just something that was just a perfect opportunity and program to walk into and take charge. I am super looking forward to it and being a part of the community.”

Bong said she is committed to continuing the award-winning tradition of the Jackson County band, while also focusing on building well-rounded individuals who will be productive members to society. 

“I really like to build positive relationships with the students where they are already achieving music at a high-level, but really teaching them to be good contributing members of society and having fun doing it through music,” Bong said. “Because the band is such a big public showing of the high school, it is important to leave those kids in a way that they’re going to be successful, have fun and then be good humans after they leave high school.”

Bong noted the growth taking place inside Jackson County is one she has seen previously, growing up in Forsyth County. She said she is eager to be a part of such a rapidly growing community.

“It is exciting now to be on the teacher's side of things, now where you know you get to see the growth and see if you’re able to reach even more students,” Bong said. “It is super exciting.”

Bong is a former drum major for the University of Georgia’s infamous Redcoat Marching Band. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UGA, a Master of Music Education from Georgia College and a Specialist Degree in Music Education from Auburn University. Bong is currently enrolled in her Ph.D. program in Music Education at Auburn. Furthermore, Bong is a member of the National Association of Music Educators and the Georgia Association of Music Educators, and has served as a judge in multiple competitions.