FINALSITE - Key Persons
Jim Peacock is in his eleventh year as the Germantown Middle School Band Coordinator in Madison, MS. Under his direction, ensembles have consistently earned superior awards at the MHSAA State Concert Evaluation, as well as numerous festival honors at Choice Music Events. In 2017, the GMS Advanced Band was a featured performing ensemble at the University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band. In 2019, they were selected to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Festival held at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. They will also be featured as the first middle school band to ever be invited to perform at the 2021 statewide Mississippi Bandmasters Convention.
Mr. Peacock is an active clinician throughout Mississippi and Alabama. His conducting engagements include the Pearl Jr. High School Honor Band in Pearl, MS; Scott County Middle School Honor Band in Forest, MS; University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band in Tuscaloosa, AL; Co-Lin Junior College Regional Middle School Honor Band in Wesson, MS; and the Gulf Coast BDA Honor Band in Gulfport, MS. He was also a clinician at the Mississippi Band Directors Association Convention in 2015, 2016, and 2018, and at the Mississippi State University Band Director Summer Symposium in 2015. In 2020, Mr. Peacock was awarded "Director of the Year" for the East Central Mississippi Band Director's Association.
Mr. Peacock is currently in his 21st year of teaching. Prior to Germantown Middle School, he served as Middle School Band Coordinator at Madison Middle School in Madison, MS; Director of Bands at Wilson Middle School in Plano, TX; Assistant Band Director at Westwood Junior High in Richardson, TX; Assistant Band Director at Tejeda Middle School in San Antonio, TX; and Head Band Director at Metzger Middle School in San Antonio, TX. During his time in San Antonio, he served as Pep Band director at the University of Texas at San Antonio from 2003 to 2005.
He is a 2001 graduate of Louisiana State University, where he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree. While at LSU, he served as a member of the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Frank Wickes and studied conducting with Dr. Linda Moorhouse. He also holds a Master of Educational Leadership degree from William Carey University, which he earned in 2019. His professional affiliations include ASBDA of Mississippi, the National Band Association, and the Mississippi Band Directors Association. Mr. Peacock has also served as a Festival Site Coordinator for Choice Music Events, hosting concert festivals across the state of Texas. Along with his teaching duties, Mr. Peacock serves the school leadership team as Fine Arts Department Chair, teaches a private trumpet studio, and is an active musician in the Jackson, MS, metro area.
Greetings! My name is Kyle Crockett, and I am so excited to begin the 2024-25 year at Germantown Middle School. This is my tenth year at GMS, and I can't wait to get started with 8th Grade Advanced English and Language Arts. You have a genuinely wonderful group of people at your children's disposal and your own, and I could not be more honored to work among them in building relationships with all of you and setting your children on the path to academic and social success that GMS takes so very seriously. I look forward to meeting all of you and working together to make this school year one of growth, collaboration, and success.
I'm so excited for my seventh year at GMS! I'm a Mississippi native, growing up in Starkville, and relocating to Madison with my family as a college student. I received a degree in Psychology with a specializing theme in Psychodrama, as well as a Masters in Counselor Education, from Mississippi State University where I was active in theatre as an actor, costumer, and choreographer. I love kids and have worked with all ages in a variety of roles. I have taught English to middle-schoolers and remedial reading to high school students, served as high school guidance counselor, and was the owner and director of Drama Kids of Greater Jackson for 9 years.
My husband, Jason, and I have been married for 21 years, and we have 3 children - a freshman at MSU, a sophomore at GHS, and a 6th grader at GMS. For fun, I love to swim, read, sing showtunes, see concerts and plays, go to MSU games, travel, and watch my kids play sports. I also love taking students to New York each summer, so they can experience Broadway first hand!
Communication will also be delivered through School Status text messages and phone calls. You can save that number as Mrs. Robinson/Robotics so you know who from GMS is trying to reach you.
I attended Mississippi State University, where I obtained a B. A. in English in 2009. I also attended Belhaven University, where I obtained an M. Ed. in Reading Literacy in 2017. I am licensed in English, College Essentials Literacy, Library Science, Reading, and Social Studies.
Experience
I am entering my fifteenth year in education and my second year in Madison County School District. I have taught a little bit of everything, but my passion lies with English. For the 2024-2025 school year, I am teaching 6th Grade ELA and 6th Grade Advanced ELA.
Job Titles:
- Receptionist and Attendance Clerk
My name is Lisa Shaw, and this is my seventh year being on staff at Germantown Middle School (Go Mavericks!). I have been teaching English Language Arts for seventeen years, the last eleven in the Madison County School District. Raised in Charleston, Mississippi, I attended Strider Academy from 1st-12th grade. After graduation, I attended The University of Mississippi (Go Rebs!) where I studied Business. Before I began my teaching career, I worked in the legal field and then began a family. I received my Master's of Arts in Teaching from Belhaven University in 2007 and began what had always been my dream career -- to teach! I am passionate about reading (go figure), and I enjoy decorating, working out, and spending time with family and friends. I have two children; a daughter, Mary Clark, who is an attorney in Madison County; and a son, Brian, who is a Certified Public Accountant in Memphis, TN. I am a resident of Madison. I am looking forward to an exciting 2024-2025 school year!
My name is Robin Ball and this year I will be teaching 7th grade ELA. I graduated High School from Jackson Prep and went to Mississippi State University where I received a Bachelors and Masters degree in Elementary Education. GO DAWGS!!! This is my 26th year of teaching and I'm a National Board Certified teacher! I taught 7th and 5th grade in Pensacola, Florida (and night classes at Pensacola Junior College) then moved back to Mississippi where I taught 3rd and 2nd grade in Rankin County for 11 years. I moved to Madison County and taught at Mannsdale Upper for 9 years. This is my fourth year at GMS.
My husband, Tommy, and I have been married for 22 years and we have an 18 year old daughter named Manze. She's a Freshman at Mississippi State! I also have a sweet Maltipoo puppy named Lily! In my spare time I love to play tennis, read, relax, and spend time with my family. I love to attend any Mississippi State athletic event and Saints football games!
My name is Abbey Thomas. This year we are going to explore all things mathematics. Your child will learn new strategies, solve equations, and become an amazing mathematician. I grew up in Madison, MS, and am proud to be a product of Madison County Schools. I attended Madison County Schools from K-12. I graduated from Madison Central High School. I then attended Mississippi State University and received my Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with concentrations in middle school mathematics and social studies. I recently finished my Master's degree in Online Instruction and Design K-12 through Mississippi College. This is my eighth year in education. I am excited to take on the new title of Assistant Cheer Coach for GMS and look forward to cheering on our Mavericks from the sidelines. I am married to my college sweetheart, Landon. We have a Goldendoodle named Lucy who is our pride and joy! We are active members of First Baptist Church in Madison and love spending time with our families and friends. As your child's teacher, my goal is to shape their young minds as we begin this new school year.
The 2024-2025 school year will be my ninth year of teaching. I love teaching math "the Wamble Way" at Germantown Middle School. Through the years, I've been actively involved as a Classroom Coordinator, Parent Volunteer, PTO Member, GHS Mini Mav Committee Member, GHS Booster Club, Assistant Teacher, Elementary Teacher, and Middle School Mathematics. Originally from Arkansas, I graduated from University of Arkansas at Monticello and continued my education to receive a Masters of Art in Teaching from JSU. I married my college sweetheart in 2006. Together, we have three children with our "finale" beginning middle school this year. Go MAVS!