Our Staff
Stacy Jernigan
A native of Columbia, Tennessee, Stacy Jernigan studied Music Education at Middle Tennessee State University before earning her Master’s Degree in Education from Tennessee State University. She began her teaching career in the fall of 2000 at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville, Tennessee. In the fall of 2005, she started her tenure at Wilson Central High School in Lebanon, Tennessee where she continues teaching currently. Under her leadership at Wilson Central, the band has experienced substantial growth in numbers and achievement. The Wilson Central Band performed numerous times at the Tennessee Music Education Association State Concert Festival and perennially qualifies for the Tennessee Bandmasters Association Sweepstakes Award. They have performed both regionally and nationally in locations such as the Statue of Liberty, World War II Memorial, and in the Chicago St. Patrick’s Parade. They have also earned the Award of Distinction in Concert Performance from the Tennessee Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association. Her students have earned Mid-State and All-State status and have been accepted to the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts. Graduates of Wilson Central go on to earn scholarships at universities throughout Tennessee as well as some of the top music schools in the United States. Some have gone on to pursue successful careers in music, serving as secondary and university music teachers and performing in regional orchestras and military bands.
Ms. Jernigan frequently serves as a mentor for student teachers and serves as a clinician and adjudicator in the Middle Tennessee area. She served as a guest conductor at a concert at Middle Tennessee State University celebrating women in music as a part of National Women’s History Month and was recently inducted into the MTSU Band of Blue Hall of Fame. Shehas been named an Outstanding Teacher by the Governor’s School for the Arts, and has twice received the National Band Association Citation of Excellence. In 2024, she was named the Tennessee Music Education Association High School Music Teacher of the Year. She currently serves as President of the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association. Her professional affiliations also include the Tennessee Music Education Association, Tennessee Bandmasters Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota. Ms. Jernigan is also an elected member of Phi Beta Mu, an honorary bandmasters fraternity.
Her pride and joy is her son and Wilson Central Band member, Jeremiah. They currently reside in Gallatin with their dog, Rudy.
Nick Thomas
Joining the Wilson Central Band Family in the 2024-2025 school year is Band Director, Nick Thomas. Mr. Thomas was previously the head band director at Eagleville School in Rutherford County, where he taught 6-12 band and music. A native of Knoxville, TN, Nick obtained his bachelor’s degree in music education from Middle Tennessee State University, where he studied trombone with Dr. David Loucky. Currently in his seventh year of teaching, Mr. Thomas has directed concert, pep, and marching bands, as well as percussion ensembles, jazz bands, and other musical groups.
He served as the middle school representative for the Middle Tennessee State Band and Orchestra Association from 2021-2023 and has sat on the conference committee for the Tennessee Music Education Association all-state honor band conference since 2021. For the past three years, Mr. Thomas served as the concert festival host of the Tri-Lakes Band Directors Association. Mr. Thomas currently resides in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, with his wife, Sarah, and son, Theodore.
Mr. Thomas is excited to be a part of the Wilson Central High School Band Family!
Max Gardner
Max is a percussionist, music educator, and composer based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Actuarial Science from Middle Tennessee State University. He has taught many high school percussion programs in the Middle Tennessee area. Max spent 2 years marching in the DCI activity, spending both years with Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps in 2017 and 2018. He was also contracted to march with Spirit of Atlanta for the 2020 season but the season was cancelled due to COVID-19. Max has spent 6 years marching in the WGI activity as well. All 6 years were spent with Audio Theater Percussion, spending the first two in the front ensemble and the latter 4 on snare drum. Max has had a wide gamut of teachers he is very thankful for. Those included, but are not limited to: Daniel Del Moro, Andrew Chunn, Jack Bounds, Zach Hewitt, Tony Teleky, Adam Wiencken, Dr. Brian Mueller, Julie Davila, Lalo Davila, and Russell Wharton.
Scottie Simpkins
Scottie graduated from Smith County High School in 2012. He then went on to perform for one year with the Austin Peay State University Governor’s Own Marching Band. While at Austin Peay, Scottie pursued a degree in dance. Scottie has marched with Music City Drum Corps in 2015. Most of his performance career was spent with Eklipse Winterguard where he participated in Eklipse A (2013) and Eklipse (2014-2017). Scottie has been fortunate enough to work with performers at Rossview High School, Ravenwood High School, Station Camp High School, Beech High School and Eklipse. Scottie has been with us at Wilson Central since November of 2016. His favorite part of performing and teaching is hearing how the crowd reacts.
Trey Kirris
A recent graduate from Lawrence County High School, Trey began teaching at Wilson Central in winter of 2019. He has performed with Eklipse winter guard, the Boston Crusaders, and the Bluecoats and majored in dance at Middle Tennessee State University, with a minor in somatic movement education. His favorite thing about teaching color guard is allowing his students to express themselves individually while also learning important lessons they will use for the rest of their lives.
Faith Brown
Faith Brown is a current junior at Middle Tennessee State University, earning her degree in Instrumental Music Education. She is an alumnus of Wilson Central who graduated in 2022. During her time in the WCHS band, Faith was band president, section leader, librarian, and performed in multiple of their concert ensembles on various instruments. Faith became a WCHS band staff member in 2023. She is currently a member of the MTSU Band of Blue and has marched with them for 3 years. She is the baritone section leader, as well as pep band conductor. Her favorite part about marching band is the joy you feel at the end of a performance when the crowd cheers, knowing that your hard work paid off.
After Faith has earned her degree, she would like to become a middle or high school band director. She plans on going back to school and earning her masters degree in conducting or education.
Keegan Scott
Joining the Wilson Central Staff in 2024 is Keegan Scott. Keegan is a graphic designer, composer, and trumpet player currently studying finance at MTSU. He marched 2 years in DCI, spending a year with Music City in 2022 and Bluecoats in 2023. His favorite part about teaching marching band is fostering great life skills in the next generation, and teaching how concepts in marching band transfer to the real world.
