Deanna is a Stevenson graduate and was a part of the color guard from 1994-1997. It was during this time that she began to choreograph and teach as a student in the program. Once Deanna graduated, she officially began coaching the color guard in 1997.

Deanna then attended Western Michigan University. It was here that she furthered her craft with Western Michigan University’s Color Guard. During her 5 years as a part of this team, she took a leadership position as a drill instructor. Each summer, Deanna continued to bring the knowledge she obtained into her coaching.

Once she graduated college, she not only continued coaching the color guard during marching band seasons, but she began Chimera Essence, the Stevenson High School’s winter guard team. She continued coaching winter guard for 3 seasons before taking a break to begin her family.

Deanna is married to Thomas Dutts and has 3 kids, Nolan, Casey, and Ryan. She is currently a 5th grade teacher at Barnard Elementary School in Troy.

Other past experiences Deanna had coaching were at Rochester Adams High School, Dakota High School, Lakeview High School, and Utica High School.

Being able to share the same joy and passion for color guard that she experiences, with her students, is what brings her back every year.

Deanna’s favorite moments as a coach are watching her team bring the music alive through movement, color, and emotion each time they take the field.

Jenna is a Stevenson graduate and band program alumni where she performed as a color guard member from 2007-2011.

After graduating from SHS, Jenna attended Oakland University to study Elementary Education. It was at Oakland she continued her love of spinning on the award-winning Oakland University Winter Guard. She was one of the original members of the team which formed in 2014 and performed with them until she graduated in 2017.

Being a part of OU's team helped her to hone her skills which she brought to the Stevenson color guard when she began coaching in 2011.

After years of coaching at Stevenson, she decided to resurrect the Chimera Essence Winter Guard that Deanna Dutts had started years before. Since bringing the team back in 2017, she has helped countless students advance their skills within the art, including guiding them to a 1st place championship at MCGC State Championships in 2022 and 2025.

Jenna is married to Jacob Podgorski whom she met while in the Stevenson Marching Band. They have a black lab fur baby named Korra who they love more than anything and spoil to death.

Jenna is a Building Substitute at Barnard Elementary in Troy. She loves being able to help students each and every day.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading and going on hikes with Jacob and Korra. While she misses performing, she is so ecstatic she is able to share this wonderful sport with students. Her favorite thing about coaching is watching students achieve new skills and falling more in love with the sport. Seeing their excitement makes her feel like she’s learning it all over again.

Recently, she graduated from Central Michigan University with her masters in Learning Design and Technology. She also was able to take part in the MCGC 50th Anniversary Alumni Guard that competed at MCGC State Championships this season.