Directors

Mrs. Jennifer Adams has taught 5th and 6th Grade Band at Vernon Middle School since 2017. She previously taught band at Roosevelt Middle School in Cedar Rapids, and has also taught 5-12 band in Springville, Iowa, and Custer, South Dakota.  

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Augustana University (SD), and her Master of Music degree in Music Education from the University of South Dakota. She also holds a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Morningside University and is a National Board Certified Teacher of Music-Band. 

Mrs. Adams maintains professional memberships in the Iowa Bandmasters Association, Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, Jazz Educators of Iowa, Iowa Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education. She serves as the NEIBA Elementary Affairs Chair, is an active IHSMA adjudicator, and was the recipient of the 2023 Phillip Sehmann Excellence in Teaching Award. Bands under her direction receive consistent superior ratings and regional honors, marched in the 2014 Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, and performed at the 2016 Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference. 

She enjoys playing saxophone in area jazz and concert bands, and loves to run, read, and travel in her spare time. She lives in Marion with her husband, Tony, a software engineer; sons Archer (7), Everett (5); Harrison (2); and shih-tzu, Leo.

Mrs. Michelle Waymire is excited to begin her third year at Vernon Middle School as Director of 7th and 8th Grade Bands! Prior to teaching at Vernon, she taught middle school band for seven years at Drexler Middle School in the Western Dubuque School District. Mrs. Waymire is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance and K-12 teaching certification. She earned her master’s degree in music education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL.

While attending the University of Iowa, Mrs. Waymire was a member of the University of Iowa Symphony Band, Jazz Repertory Ensemble, and a four year member of the Hawkeye Marching Band; serving as trumpet section leader her senior year. Michelle is currently a member of the Iowa Bandmasters Association, Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, and the Marion Education Association. She also is an alumna of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.

Mrs. Waymire frequently performs with community concert bands and jazz bands, local musical productions, and area churches. During her free time she enjoys traveling, reading, instructing fitness classes, golfing and spending time with her family. She resides in Marion with her husband Nick, newborn daughter Harper, and two dogs, Yorkie, Phynn, and German Shepherd, Kona.