Meet Your Teachers

Mr. Jeremy S. Root has been Director of Bands for the Marshall Public Schools since the summer of 2002 and has served as the High School Music Department Chair since 2009.  Mr. Root holds a Masters Degree in Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Instrumental Music Education from Michigan State University.  He completed his student teaching in the Charlotte Public Schools under the guidance of Dr. Gary Sullivan.  While at MSU, Mr. Root was a member of the MSU Wind Symphony and the Spartan Marching Band, where he was section leader and trumpet soloist.  Mr. Root has studied trumpet with Rich Illman (Professor of Trumpet, MSU) and Mark Thompson, and has studied conducting with John T. Madden (Assistant Director of Bands, MSU), Dr. Scott Lubaroff (Director of Bands, University of Central Florida), and Dr. Greg Wolynec (Director of Bands and Orchestral Studies, Austin Peay State University). He is a member of the International Trumpet Guild, the Music Educators National Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, an international music fraternity.  

Mr. Root has been affiliated with the Brass Band of Battle Creek for many years, serving as their Summer Camp Coordinator from 2017-2019 and has served since 2006 as their Stage Manager.  He has served as guest conductor of the Marshall Community Band since 2002.  While teaching at Marshall, Mr. Root has regularly worked as a mentor teacher with students from Michigan State University, Albion College, and Central Michigan University.

Mr. Root lives in Marshall with his wife, Stacy Root, who teaches Elementary Music at Harrington and Walters Elementary schools as well as an Elementary Music Education Methods course at Albion College.  Mr. and Mrs. Root have two sons, Andrew and Elliott.

Mrs. Amanda Burdette joined the MPS family as Associate Director of Band in November of 2014. She previously served as as a middle school band director and assistant marching band director for the Battle Creek Public Schools.  Mrs. Burdette earned her Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University and Masters in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University. Mrs. Burdette is also the assistant director and plays French horn for the Cereal City Concert Band of Battle Creek. Marching band is Mrs. Burdette’s favorite season and she brings 20 years of marching band experience to MHS. Mrs. Burdette lives with her husband, John, who is a teacher at the Battle Creek Math and Science Center, their daughter Nora, and their two dogs.