Staff

HEAD BAND DIRECTOR

Mike Loffredo has been teaching middle and high school band in North Florida for over 15 years and started working at KMS in 2022. Prior to this recent appointment, he spent extensive time building the band program at Bradford Middle School (Starke, FL) and working as a brass ensemble specialist with The Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps (Texas) and The Troopers DBC (Wyoming). In addition to these ensemble roles he served as the Visual Caption Head for Infinity III Indoor Percussion, Buchholz HS, Bradford HS and remains active with the Oakleaf, and Newberry HS Marching Band Programs. 

As a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, Mr. Loffredo has served as District Secretary, District Chairman, District Mentor Coordinator, and currently sits on the state Health & Wellness Committee. Further, his concert and jazz bands have consistently received superior ratings at MPA. As a result, Mr. Loffredo has been recognized with the Tom Bishop Award (2016), the Linda Mann 5-Year Superior Award (2020) and was Teacher of the Year at Bradford Middle School in 2018 and Kanapaha MS in 2023.

Mr. Loffredo continues to be an active middle and high school clinician throughout North Florida and enjoys presenting his research and teaching experience in academic settings. In 2019, he was the keynote speaker for the University of Florida CNAfME annual rally, and has given addresses at Coastal Carolina University and the NAfME National Conference in 2020. In 2025 he co-presented the ASBDA "How to Fix it" Series clinic as well as in 2026, "Teaching your beginners to read anything" both at the annual FMEA state Conference in Tampa, FL.

Mr. Loffredo is an FBA certified brass adjudicator and holds memberships in The Florida Music Educators Association, The National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Honorary Music Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu, and The American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA). He received both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Florida.

ASSISTANT BAND DIRECTOR

Summer Atteberry serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at Kanapaha Middle where she conducts the Concert Band and Symphonic Winds as well as teaches the KMS Color Guard. Her other teaching roles include teaching Choir at Kanapaha.

Ms. Atteberry has been a highly sought after marching band specialist and has worked with several finalist groups over the past 4 years including Oakleaf HS, PK Younge and Buchholz HS. Currently, she works with the Newberry High School Band as a visual consultant for the band and guard. Further, Ms. Atteberry is an active low brass specialist, and continues to do freelance work in North Florida. In addition, she maintains a small selective private studio of trombone and euphonium students. 

Ms. Atteberry graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education and a Trombone Performance Certificate. While at UF she performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Brass Band, Trombone Ensemble, and the Gator Marching Band. Ms. Atteberry also served as UF’s chapter president for the Collegiate National Association of Music Education (CNAfME) and was the Vice-President of Membership for the international music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota's Delta Gamma chapter. 

She is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, National Association of Music Education, the International Trombone Association, Florida Vocal Association (FVA), and Sigma Alpha Iota.

STEEL DRUM DIRECTOR

Nestor “Rickie” Santiago is graduate of Buchholz High School where he was a student of Paula Thornton, Vicki Nolan and Thomas Hurst. He attended the University of Florida and was in the studio of Dr. Ken Broadway. While there, Nestor was the principal percussionist for the University’s Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. David Waybright. Mr. Santiago has performed at the Midwest Clinic, the American Bandmasters Association convention as well as with the Gainesville Orchestra, Ocala Symphony Orchestra, and the American Chamber Winds.

Nestor is an active educator in the Gainesville area, teaching percussion sectionals at many area middle and high schools as well as holding a private studio.Under his direction, the Buchholz High School Percussion Ensemble has consistently earned superior ratings at the FBA District and State Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessments and has performed at the 2017 FMEA Professional Development Conference, the 2018 McCormick Marimba Festival at the University of South Florida and the 2018 University of Florida Percussion Festival. Additionally, Mr. Santiago serves as a Director for Infinity Percussion, a consistent World Class Finalist at the WGI World Championships. Mr. Santiago is a Vic Firth, Mike Balter, and Zildjian endorsed Educational Artist.

ASSISTANT GUARD COACH

Megan Nolan serves as the Assistant Color Guard Coach at Kanapaha Middle School alongside Ms. Atteberry. During the school day she is a Social Studies teacher but volunteers her time after school to the program and competitions. Ms. Nolan is starting her fourth year here at Kanapaha, teaching all grade levels throughout her years here. 

During her high school years, she was a member of her straight superior earning marching band and winter guard. She held leadership positions, conducted clinics, and even ran a rifle class at the UF Marching Summer Band Camp. As an adult, she was a member of the Sounds of Freedom Marching Band in Orlando while attending UCF and teaching in Orlando. She was featured in parades and in solos during their spring performances at the Orlando Family Stage Theater.

COLOR GUARD DESIGNER

Sam Rahn joined the KMS team during their inaugural school year 2025-2026. In addition to design, coaching and consulting, Sam also writes all of the drill for the Kanapaha Cadets competition team.

He has coached the Buchholz Aviance Color Guard for nearly a decade. Under his leadership, the Buchholz Winter Guard has consistent top marks by the Florida Federation of Color Guard Circuit and the Florida Bandmasters Association. The Buchholz Color Guard earned 1st place (gold) at the 2018 FFCC State Championships, 3rd at the 2023 FFCC State Championships, and 2nd at the 2024 FFCC State Championships. 

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In addition to his work with the Buchholz Color Guard, Sam Rahn serves as Visual Coordinator for the Infinity 3, a World Class WGI Indoor Percussion Ensemble.