Jeffrey Rowser—Auburn University College of Education’s 2018 “Outstanding Educator,” 2014-15 Morgan County Schools “Teacher of the Year” and 2013-14 “Georgia Music Educator of the Year”— is a native of Attalla, Alabama and is a 1976 graduate of Etowah High School, where he lettered 3 years in band, basketball and track. Mr. Rowser later graduated from Auburn University (AU) with his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education. He was a saxophone major, studying with Lawrence Morgan. He has also studied music arranging with the famed Dr. Johnnie Vinson and Bob Richardson. He performed his student teaching duties with the legendary Tommy Goff at Auburn High School in 1980. While at Auburn, he was drum major of the Auburn University Marching Band for three years. His appointment by Dr. Bill Walls made Jeffrey the first African American Drum Major at Auburn University and in the Southeastern Conference.

Mr. Rowser, Director of Bands at Morgan County HS, brings nearly 40 years of experience in music education. Rowser was recently selected as the 2013 “Georgia Music Educator of the Year”. He was chosen in 2006, to lead the East Jackson Fine Arts Department in Jackson County Schools (GA). His hiring in 2006-07 was to prepare a Fine Arts Department that would begin its work in August 2007. He was chosen as “Teacher of the Year” for East Jackson in 2011. Prior to East Jackson, he served as a director in Dougherty County, Marietta City Schools(STAR Teacher 1988), with 15 years serving as the founding director at Salem HS (Conyers, GA), where he was “Teacher of the Year” in 1994 for Rockdale County Schools. During his career his bands received Superior Ratings in all marching, jazz and symphonic music events. His bands have won over 600 awards, with 350 of those coming at Salem HS as “Superior, Best-in-Class and Grand Champion” awards in band, drum major, colorguard, dance team, winterguard and drum line. His bands have received special invitations to perform in London, Toronto, Hawaii, Orlando, Kansas City and NY. His groups have performed frequently in the Atlanta Children’s Healthcare Parade televised on WSB-TV2. The Salem HS Dance Team that won 9-State Champion Awards in both Jazz and Pom style competition. During those years the group also earned a national ranking with the Universal Dance Association held annually in Orlando, Florida.

In 1991, Rowser became a co-founder of the “Drum Major Leadership Academy” held annually on the campus of Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. His student management workshop, “Team Building Anywhere” is a featured session for band, chorus and student council groups around Georgia. He is now the founder of “Premier Drum Major and Leadership Academy” recently established in Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington. He is also a frequent clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor of Regional and State Band events in the Southeast. He has served on the Georgia Music Educators Board of Directors and organized several district events. Rowser endorsed the Georgia Vision Project for Public Education and has served as spoke person promoting the support for Public Education in Georgia’s Public Schools.

He is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association of Jazz Educators, National Association of Music Educators, Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster Honorary and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

He is married to the former Vernelle Jones, a costume owner/designer and souvenir creator. They have three daughters. Kayla Danielle, a retired professional ballet dancer with the Nashville Ballet; Hilary Dionne, a marketing digital media specialist at Osh Kosh-Carters, and Carmen Elise, a student at Valdosta State University.

Jeffrey Rowser, Director

Morgan County High School Band

Email: jeffrey.rowser@morgan.k12.ga.us

Office Phone: 706-342-5037

The Morgan County Middle School band program is comprised of more than 240 students from 6th to 8th grades. We consistently have the top number of students in our GMEA district honor band, students are selected for the All-State band, solo and ensemble participation, an active jazz band, and many students extend their music education through private lessons.  MCMS bands score superior ratings at our state evaluations (LGPE) and the students are among the top in the school.

I have been teaching since 1991. After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1991,  I began my career at Rockdale High School as the assistant band director and choral director. I was privileged to open Memorial Middle School in 1993, and began the band program with over 300 students.  Students represented the school at district honor band, solo and ensemble, and all-state bands.  In 1994, I received my masters in music education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, IL.  In 2000, Memorial Middle School had over 450 students enrolled and 2 directors.    I started a small band program  at Young Americans Christian School in Conyers, GA was the next step in my career. 

I will begin my 13th year at Morgan County Middle school in 2021. The program is one of the most visible aspects of the school and continues a strong tradition of excellence.  In 2017, I received MCMS Teacher of the Year and continue to serve on various committees at the school and as a representative of GMEA.   

My husband, Rob Seymour is the band director at Putnam Middle School.   My two oldest sons attend Piedmont College and Berry College and I have a daughter at GCSU.  

Karisa Seymour, Director

Morgan County Middle School Band

Email:  karisa.seymour@morgan.k12.ga.us

Office Phone:  706-752-4800

Andrew Duggins joined the One Morgan Band Program as the Assistant Band Director in 2023. Mr. Duggins is a native of Marietta, Georgia and is a 2017 graduate of Lassiter High School where he served as Band President, Mellophone Section Leader, and was a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society. In high school, Mr. Duggins was selected for the GMEA District 12 Honor Band five times and the GMEA All-State Band once in 2017. After graduation, he attended the University of Tennessee (UTK) and majored in music education with an emphasis on brass, woodwind, and percussion. While at UTK, Mr. Duggins was an active leader in the Pride of the Southland Marching Band, serving as a mellophone squad leader for two years and then as an undergraduate teaching assistant (Blacksuit) his senior year. Other ensembles that he was a member of include the UT Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Horn Choir, and Brass Choir. He student taught at Farragut Middle School with Chris MacTavish and at Farragut High School with Kenneth Carrico. Mr. Duggins graduated from UTK with his Bachelor of Music in Music Education in 2021.

Mr. Duggins' career began in 2021 at Spring City Middle School in Spring City, Tennessee where he taught band and chorus. In the wake of the COVID pandemic, Mr. Duggins was tasked with rebuilding the music programs at SCMS. During his two years in Spring City, enrollment in band and chorus classes increased by 140%. The band returned to public performances in the fall of 2021 including concerts, home football games, and marching in the Spring City Christmas Parade. While living in Tennessee, Mr. Duggins was a member of the Tennessee Wind Symphony, an adult community concert band in Knoxville, TN. 

Mr. Duggins is excited to be a part of the One Morgan Band program. His responsibilities include leading the MCHS Concert Band, co-teaching the 6th grade, 7th grade, and jazz band with Ms. Seymour, and serving as the assistant band director of the Morgan County Marching Bulldog Band.

He currently resides in Madison, GA with his cat, George. 

Andrew Duggins, Assistant Director

Morgan County Middle School and High School

Email:  andrew.duggins@morgan.k12.ga.us

Karen Mullins joins the faculty of the Morgan County High School Band this school year though she has been working with the group since 2001.  Morgan County has been her place of residence for over 20 years and she is proud to call it home.  

Born and raised in Villa Rica, Georgia, Karen excelled in high school as a euphonium, trombone and tuba player.  She went on to earn her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia and then her Master's in Music Education from Bowling Green State University (Ohio). 

Her teaching career began in 1995 at Eastside Transitional School in Newton County as a middle school band director.  Later, she opened Indian Creek Middle School in the same county in 1997, developing a vibrant middle school band with many District Honor and All-State Band participants.  From the Fall of 2000 to the Spring of 2016, Karen home schooled her three boys and co-founded the Athens Area Home School Band.  The program was very successful and is still active today.  In 2016, Karen joined the faculty at Timber Ridge Elementary School in Henry County as the music teacher of 750 students.  During each of these teaching assignments, she maintained an active low brass private lesson studio producing many successful musicians.

She is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the American Orff-Schulwerk Association.

Karen has three boys who are amazing young men and musicians in their own right.  Nathan is an Army ROTC Cadet at the University of North Georgia; Aaron a freshman Music Industry major at Georgia Southern University-Armstrong; and Seth an eighth grade MCMS student and band member.

Karen Mullins, Assistant Director

Morgan County High School

Email: karen.mullins@morgan.k12.ga.us

Office Phone: 706-752-4900 

Google Voice:  706-431-8073