Ira Jenkins is the newly appointed Director of Bands at Decatur High School in Georgia. Prior to joining Decatur High School in July 2022, Mr. Jenkins was the Director of Bands at Alpharetta High School. While at Alpharetta High School, the concert bands were featured performers at GMEA's In-service Conference, UGA's JanFest Honor Band Clinic, Music For All's Southeastern Concert Festival, and a host of other special performances. The marching band was a Bands of America regional finalist as well as Grand Champion at the Jacksonville University Invitational. Alpharetta's Indoor Percussion ensemble was GIPA's Scholastic A champion in 2022 as well as the WGI Atlanta Scholastic A champion. All three of Alpharetta's winter guards have been repeat SAPA championship medalists. In 2019 the Alpharetta varsity winter guard was a Winter Guard International World Championships finalist.
Prior to Alpharetta High School, Jenkins taught elementary, middle, and high school bands in City of Atlanta, Cobb County, Fulton County, and in Westchester County (NY) as well as Bergen County (NJ). His bands consistently earned superior ratings at performance evaluations, and his winter guards have received state championships honors. Jenkins' students have earned chairs in county and district honor bands as well as all-state bands and university honor clinics. Many of his students continue their passion for performance in college bands, professional ensembles, drum and bugle corps, independent drumlines, and independent winter guards.
Mr. Jenkins' responsibilities have extended far beyond the classroom. He has served as an assistant high school marching band director, visual caption head, color guard caption head, and director of numerous winter guard programs throughout the east coast. He has also served as band chair and the district chair for GMEA's District 5 as well as vice president of the Southern Association for Performance Arts (SAPA).
Mr. Jenkins' professional affiliations include marching band and winter guard adjudication with the WGI, DCI, BOA, USSBA, and various circuits around the country. He holds memberships with GMEA, NAfME, and NBA.
Education:
PhD. (in progress); Music Education, Georgia State University (2024-anticipated)
Ed.S; Music Education, University of Georgia
M.Ed; Education Administration, Kennesaw State University
B.M.; Music Education, Georgia State University and Florida A&M University
Prior to Alpharetta High School, Jenkins taught elementary, middle, and high school bands in City of Atlanta, Cobb County, Fulton County, and in Westchester County (NY) as well as Bergen County (NJ). His bands consistently earned superior ratings at performance evaluations, and his winter guards have received state championships honors. Jenkins' students have earned chairs in county and district honor bands as well as all-state bands and university honor clinics. Many of his students continue their passion for performance in college bands, professional ensembles, drum and bugle corps, independent drumlines, and independent winter guards.
Mr. Jenkins' responsibilities have extended far beyond the classroom. He has served as an assistant high school marching band director, visual caption head, color guard caption head, and director of numerous winter guard programs throughout the east coast. He has also served as band chair and the district chair for GMEA's District 5 as well as vice president of the Southern Association for Performance Arts (SAPA).
Mr. Jenkins' professional affiliations include marching band and winter guard adjudication with the WGI, DCI, BOA, USSBA, and various circuits around the country. He holds memberships with GMEA, NAfME, and NBA.
Education:
PhD. (in progress); Music Education, Georgia State University (2024-anticipated)
Ed.S; Music Education, University of Georgia
M.Ed; Education Administration, Kennesaw State University
B.M.; Music Education, Georgia State University and Florida A&M University