Christy graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech where she met her husband, Jason. Christy and Jason are the parents of five (mostly all grown) children with only one still of school age and involved in NMME classes and marching band. Christy is active in her church, loves to read classics, historical fiction and listening to book podcasts. 

Christy's love for music came from years of piano lessons and singing in chorus from middle school through college. She sang in the Georgia All-state Chorus, the Georgia Tech Chorale, and various ensembles. A highlight for Christy was singing in the chorus for Carmina Burana with the Atlanta Ballet at the Fox Theatre. She has enjoyed seeing her own children’s growth in music on all their various instruments and how music has enriched their lives.

Christy is grateful to be a part of North Metro Music Education. Music education opportunities for homeschoolers and private school students are often challenging or inaccessible, and Christy feels strongly that this program will impact, prepare and enrich kids for the rest of their lives.​

christy.cannon@nmme.org

Mrs. Gravitte has been teaching band and music lessons for 16 years. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Shorter University as well as an AA in General Music from Georgia Highlands College and a medical business degree from Dalton State College. Mrs. Gravitte is an active member in the Georgia Music Educators Association and is a member of both Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Theta Kappa honor societies.

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Amy.gravitte@nmme.org

Vaughn Irby has been directing bands for 39 years. Marching and concert bands under Mr. Irby’s direction have received Superior and Excellent ratings at contests and festivals throughout his career. He has been active in the Georgia Music Educators Association at the District and State levels as District Instrumental Chair and State Band Council. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Troy State University, and a Master of Music Education from Valdosta State College.

Vaughn.irby@nmme.org

jaime.meyers@nmme.org

Mrs. April Pettus is a pianist and violinist with a Bachelors of Music Education from Berry College and a Masters of Music Education from the University of Georgia. She teaches Orchestras 2 and 3 for NMME. She has been in music education for over thirty-three years, starting her career as an elementary, middle and high school level orchestra director in Fulton County Schools where her groups consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at GMEA Evaluation Performance festivals. She also served in various county level capacities including co-writing curriculum and selecting textbooks for the orchestra program. After starting a family, April transitioned into working part-time with her sister, a cellist, helping develop orchestra programs in various Atlanta area private schools. Once God led April and her husband to begin homeschooling their three daughters, he also opened the door for her and her sister to work together for seven years building an orchestra program in a homeschool music organization similar to NMME. She has continued to be active in the Georgia Music Educators Association where she has coordinated district orchestra events and served as a district GMEA officer. She is also a member of American String Teachers Association, Suzuki Association of Americas, and maintains a piano and violin lesson studio. April is grateful and honored to be part of the amazing NMME staff!

April.pettus@nmme.org

Alexis is the wife to Wiley and mother of 4 wonderful children. (5 in November!)
She has been involved in various music programs from a very young age, and began playing violin at age 6. Around age 18 she began teaching private violin lessons. She continues to teach private violin lessons from her home. She particularly enjoys teaching young musicians and giving them a solid foundation and a love of making music to the glory of God. Alexis loves gardening, crafting, caring for their chickens, and making her kiddos giggle!

Alexis.pritchett@nmme.org

Mrs. Rogneby is a pianist and vocalist who has taught private piano and voice lessons from her home for over 30 years. She earned a Bachelor in Church Music from Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri and has provided Music and Fine Arts instruction as Worship Director/Pastor in several churches in Illinois, Missouri and Georgia. Karen has worked extensively with children and youth choirs, and has served as Chorus Director for 3 vocal groups at Metro North Music Education in Marietta for the past three years.

Karen.rogneby@nmme.org 

Mrs. Scarborough (Ms. Heather, to her students)

holds a bachelor's and a Master's degree in Education with a minor in Technology. She has been teaching for 30 years. She has played piano for about 18 years and clarinet for 7. She participated in the Kennesaw State University Chorus from 1988-1990. She taught music classes at West Cobb Christian Academy for about 4 years and directed the annual musical there for 6 years. 

Mrs. Scarborough has been married since 1998. Her husband is the director of Citadel Bible Institute. She has two daughters: one has graduated from college and the other is studying at the University of West Georgia on a music scholarship. 

Mrs. Scarborough loves working at NMME because it allows young students to bloom in their musical abilities in a loving and nurturing environment. She loves the partnership between the NMME program, the teachers and the families. She considers it a blessing to be part of such an amazing organization! 

heather.scarborough@nmme.org

Mr. Shackelford earned a Bachelor of Music and Education and a Master of Music Education from Montana State University. He served as the strings instructor for 13 schools of Helena, MT, and as Director and Conductor of the Helena Symphony Society. He founded a worship orchestra and the school of theology choir in Anaheim, CA. He directed the Orchestra at Mount Paran Church and was Minister of Instrumental Music and Orchestra Director of First Baptist Atlanta.

Lizzy Spainhour graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. She has sung with various high school, college, and church groups for over 30 years and has enjoyed leading several community and church children’s choirs. Lizzy has taught a variety of subjects in many different educational environments, but her favorite thing to teach is music! As a young vocalist, she was greatly impacted by stellar music education and is now dedicated to providing the same to homeschool families, including her own 4 children. Lizzy loves to create engaging lessons for her young students, challenge them to musical excellence, and rejoice in the beauty and order of God’s creation found in music. 

Lizzy.spainhour@nmme.org

Kimberly Stafford, is the Color Guard Director for the North Metro Marching Eagles.  This is her second season as a part of NMME leadership, but her family's third season with the organization.  

As Color Guard Director, Kimberly collaborates with the Band Director to design a fun and engaging auxiliary program that adds visual flair or "color" to the marching band, while educating, preparing and directing the NMME Color Guard for performances. With her involvement in the marching arts, combined with her forty years of dance training and twenty years of dance education experience, taking on the Color Guard Director role has allowed her another opportunity for musical expression through movement...and SHE LOVES IT! 

The North Metro Music Education program is special to her family. She and her husband both participated in marching band during their school years (and beyond) and were excited to find a marching band option for their homeschooled kiddos.  They like that NMME is family friendly and encourages family participation, offering music classes of many varieties and skill levels, embodying their goal of educating and inspiring via the tools of making music.  Kimberly and her husbands' kids quickly felt at home and have made many friends through the bond of music. 

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kimberly.stafford@nmme.org

This is Bryan's third year teaching at NMME.  In 2022 he led the marching band percussion to their first, 1st place finish at a competition!  Bryan started band when he was in 6th grade.  While he started playing trombone, with in the first few weeks, he switched to percussion and never looked back!  Bryan is thankful to be a part of the NMME family and to share his passion of percussion with the students.

Bryan.webb@nmme.org