Directors
Director of Bands, Rainbow Middle School - Jill DeGaetano
Mrs. DeGaetano is the Director of Bands at Rainbow Middle School. She has previously taught at Crossville, Gadsden City, and Albertville Middle School. Mrs. D was a student intern with Mr. Murphy at Rainbow Middle and Southside and is glad to once again be back home. Mrs. D is a board member of the Alabama Bandmasters Association and currently servers as Chairman of District II. She and her husband Brian live in Gadsden, AL with their daughter Kate.
Assistant Director of Bands - Erinn Huckaby
Mrs. Erinn Huckaby was born in Waldorf, MD. She graduated from Westlake High School in 2001 and accepted a full music scholarship to Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. While at JSU, Mrs. Huckaby studied instrumental music education. She was a member of the JSU Chamber Winds Ensemble, Concert Band, the Marching Southerners, SAI Music fraternity for Women, JSU Community Orchestra, and JSU Flute Choir. Mrs. Huckaby studied flute with Mrs. Victoria Delano and was also an active volunteer with the Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps while under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Bodiford. Mrs. Huckaby began teaching summer band camps for high schools in Alabama and Georgia during her time at JSU. She graduated with her bachelor of arts degree in December of 2006 and then was accepted into the JSU graduate program. Mrs. Huckaby continued to be an active member in the JSU Chamber Winds Ensemble and studied flute lessons under Dr. Davis. She was also a marching tech for the JSU Marching Southerners in 2007. While continuing her studies, Mrs. Huckaby accepted a general music teacher position at Saks Elementary School where she taught Kindergarten through 4th grade part time for a year. After receiving her graduate degree in instrumental music education in August of 2008, Mrs. Huckaby accepted a band director position in Lineville, Alabama where she taught beginning band, high school band, and music appreciation. After completing her first year of teaching, she moved to Columbus, Georgia with her current husband so he could pursue other opportunities at Columbus State University.
While in Georgia, Mrs. Huckaby worked at the Columbus School of Music and Dance as a private flute instructor teaching beginners, middle, and high school students. She was also a member of the Columbus Community Band. In 2009, Mrs. Huckaby became a substitute teacher in the Muscogee County school system where she subbed for multiple grade levels and areas of instruction. After reaching out to the local band directors, she met and worked for Mr. Foor at Richards Middle School as a band director substitute quite often. After 3 years, Mrs. Huckaby moved back to Jacksonville, Alabama to be near friends and family as her husband was preparing for a military deployment overseas. Mrs. Huckaby then accepted a position with the Etowah Youth Orchestras under the director of Mr. Mike Gagliardo where she assisted in office duties and running orchestral rehearsals in a director’s absence.
During the fall of 2012, Mrs. Huckaby accepted the Assistant Band Director position at Giles County High School. She has taught a variety of band and music appreciation classes at Bridgeforth, GCHS, Elkton and Minor Hill during her last 9 years in the Giles County School system. Due to job cuts during Covid, Mrs. Huckaby became the head band director of GCHS in 2020. She was responsible for all marching band activities, color guard/winter guard, concert band, and music appreciation. She currently resides in Athens, AL with her husband of 10+ years, Phillip, their twins, Harlow and Harrison, and animals that include a dog named Booker, and 3 cats named Dexter, Fiona, and Willow.
Director of Bands - Matt Weaver
Matt Weaver is the Director of Bands at Southside High School in Southside (Gadsden), Alabama. He and his wife Haley (who teaches 1st Grade at JSJ Elementary) met while in the band at JSU. The Weavers have three sons, Benton, Pearson, and Callon.
Mr. Weaver was awarded a Citation of Excellence in 2018 from the National Band Association and has been recognized several times by the Etowah County Board of Education for outstanding performance. He is a 2012 graduate of Jacksonville State University, where he earned a BA in Music Education and a 2020 graduate of the University of West Georgia where he earned a MM in Music Education. While at JSU, he served as a section leader for the Marching Southerners and studied arranging with the late Dr. David L. Walters. He studied tuba performance with Chris Hosmer (JSU) and Daniel Perantoni (IU) at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in Denver, Colorado.
While at Southside, Mr. Weaver has continued the program’s long tradition of musical and personal excellence earning all superior ratings at concert and marching contests and evaluations. Due to the program’s growth, two additional directors (RMS & SHS) were hired, and in 2015, the Southside Wind Ensemble was created as an additional, audition-based concert ensemble. Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2018 AMEA Professional Development Conference in Birmingham, AL. The Southside Band has been featured numerous times on national and international television, such as “Fox & Friends” live from the Talladega Superspeedway. Under Mr. Weaver’s direction, the Southside Band has performed in the 2013 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 2016 San Antonio Fiesta Flambeau Parade, the 2020 Chicago Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, twice performed in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and in the National Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington D.C.
In addition to the performing ensemble courses, Mr. Weaver also teaches music theory and is the Southside HS Choir Director. Several of his students have gone on to pursue high education in the performing arts and music education. The SHS graduating class of 2022 was awarded over $100,000 in musical scholarships. He is an active member of the Alabama Music Educators Association, and Alabama Bandmasters Association. Mr. Weaver is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men’s Music Fraternity, the International Tuba & Euphonium Association, and is currently serving as Principal Tubist for the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra.
He and his family reside in Rainbow City, AL and attend Rainbow Presbyterian Church (PCA) where he serves as Director of Music Ministries.
Mr. Weaver was awarded a Citation of Excellence in 2018 from the National Band Association and has been recognized several times by the Etowah County Board of Education for outstanding performance. He is a 2012 graduate of Jacksonville State University, where he earned a BA in Music Education and a 2020 graduate of the University of West Georgia where he earned a MM in Music Education. While at JSU, he served as a section leader for the Marching Southerners and studied arranging with the late Dr. David L. Walters. He studied tuba performance with Chris Hosmer (JSU) and Daniel Perantoni (IU) at the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute in Denver, Colorado.
While at Southside, Mr. Weaver has continued the program’s long tradition of musical and personal excellence earning all superior ratings at concert and marching contests and evaluations. Due to the program’s growth, two additional directors (RMS & SHS) were hired, and in 2015, the Southside Wind Ensemble was created as an additional, audition-based concert ensemble. Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2018 AMEA Professional Development Conference in Birmingham, AL. The Southside Band has been featured numerous times on national and international television, such as “Fox & Friends” live from the Talladega Superspeedway. Under Mr. Weaver’s direction, the Southside Band has performed in the 2013 Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 2016 San Antonio Fiesta Flambeau Parade, the 2020 Chicago Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, twice performed in Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and in the National Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington D.C.
In addition to the performing ensemble courses, Mr. Weaver also teaches music theory and is the Southside HS Choir Director. Several of his students have gone on to pursue high education in the performing arts and music education. The SHS graduating class of 2022 was awarded over $100,000 in musical scholarships. He is an active member of the Alabama Music Educators Association, and Alabama Bandmasters Association. Mr. Weaver is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Men’s Music Fraternity, the International Tuba & Euphonium Association, and is currently serving as Principal Tubist for the Gadsden Symphony Orchestra.
He and his family reside in Rainbow City, AL and attend Rainbow Presbyterian Church (PCA) where he serves as Director of Music Ministries.
Staff
Percussion Director - Tyler Gray
Tyler Gray serves as the Percussion Director for Southside High School. A 2014 graduate of Southside, Mr. Gray was an active member of The PRIDE and Symphonic Band during his time as a student. He graduated Jacksonville State University in 2020, where he performed with the Marching Southerners and Drummers of the Grey Echelon.
Before returning to Southside as a staff member, Mr. Gray taught percussion at several schools across the region, including Fort Payne, Cherokee County, Ashville, and Glencoe, among others. His dedication to music and passion for student growth have made him a valued leader in the local band community.
Mr. Gray is married to his high school sweetheart, Anna. They live in Rainbow City, AL, with their two children, Lennon and Jameson, and their dogs, Bocephus and Willie.
Before returning to Southside as a staff member, Mr. Gray taught percussion at several schools across the region, including Fort Payne, Cherokee County, Ashville, and Glencoe, among others. His dedication to music and passion for student growth have made him a valued leader in the local band community.
Mr. Gray is married to his high school sweetheart, Anna. They live in Rainbow City, AL, with their two children, Lennon and Jameson, and their dogs, Bocephus and Willie.
Crimsonette Instructor - Whitney Wood
Mrs. Whitney Wood is The PRIDE’s Crimsonette Danceline Instructor. Mrs. Wood is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she marched with the Million Dollar Band as a Crimsonette. Mrs. Wood and her family reside in Rainbow City, AL where she serves as an instructor at Ms. Tammy’s Dance Studio.