ROBERTSDALE HIGH SCHOOL
GOLDEN BEAR BAND
MEET THE STAFF
DREW ELLIS
Director of Bands
aellis@bcbe.org
Drew Ellis holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Auburn University and a Master of Education in Music Education from Troy University. He is a graduate of Enterprise High School in Enterprise, Alabama.
Prior to Robertsdale High School, Mr. Ellis's most recent posting was as Director of Bands at Spain Park High School, where he led the Pride of the Park Marching Band, the Spain Park Chamber Winds, and the Shades of Blue Jazz Ensemble. His previous experience includes four years as Assistant Director of Bands at Saraland High School and three years as Director of Bands at Samson Middle/High School. Ensembles under his direction have consistently earned superior and best in class ratings at festivals, competitions, and assessments throughout the state.
In addition to his teaching duties, Mr. Ellis has also maintained a portfolio of drill writing and arranging for marching bands throughout Alabama. He also served twelve years in the Alabama National Guard, including ten years as a commissioned officer. At the time of separation, he held the rank of Captain and held the duty position of Commander, Battery C, 1-117th Field Artillery.
Mr. Ellis's professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Alabama Music Education Association, the Alabama Bandmasters Association, the Alabama Educators' Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Ellis and his wife, Ashley; his daughters, Lily and Morgan; and their shelter pup, Penny will be moving to central Baldwin County from Sterrett, Alabama.
JEFFREY LEPA
Jeffrey Lepa has been at Robertsdale High School as Associate Director of Bands and Director of Choirs since 2021. He formerly served as Associate Director of Bands at Baldwin County High School for 4 years and Director of Bands for 12 years. Mr. Lepa graduated from Graceland University in Southern Iowa with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Music Education. While there, he served as student assistant to the band, choir, and orchestra programs and served on the student senate. Locally, he can often be found performing with the City Rhythm Jazz Band out of Loxley. Mr. Lepa is a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Association (ABA), Alabama Music Educator’s Association (AMEA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). He lives in Loxley with his wife and 2 children.
JESSICA ROE
Associate Director of Bands
jroe@bcbe.org
Jessica Roe has been at Robertsdale High School as an Associate Director of Bands since 2023. She is a band director from Fairhope, AL. that received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Alabama. She began her career in 2010 teaching percussion at various high schools in the Baldwin County area, including Baker HS, Fairhope HS, and Spanish Fort HS. Jessica worked next as a percussion and music instructor for Marcus Whitman HS and Director of Marcus Whitman Indoor Percussion and Guard in Rushville, NY for three years. She then moved to Eugene, OR in 2017, and had the privilege of being on the percussion staff for the University of Oregon Marching Band for two years, as well as an instructor at Sheldon HS. She became a founding instructor for the Willamette Indoor Percussion group in Eugene, OR before moving back home to Fairhope, AL where she was middle school band director and high school percussion instructor from 2020-2023.
MARSHA FOSTER
Director of Color Guard/Choreographer
Marsha Foster has been the director of color guard at Robertsdale High School since 2018. She is the former director of color guard
at the University of South Alabama and was there from 2010-2023. She was the color guard coordinator/instructor/choreographer for the JMB fall and winter guards. She also works with Gulf Shores HS guard as instructor/choreographer. Mrs. Foster earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis. While at MSU she served as the color guard captain and choreographer. She also performed in the wind ensemble, symphonic band and the MSU Camerata Singers. She marched on the weapon line with the Memphis Blues Brass Band Drum and Bugle Corps in 1982. Her 30+ year career of color guard choreography and instruction began at Collierville High School in Collierville, TN and extends throughout the Southeastern United States to numerous award winning High Schools as well as several Universities. For 18 years she was at Daphne H.S. in Daphne, AL serving as the color guard coordinator/instructor/choreographer for the fall and winter guard programs. Under her direction the DHS guard consistently earned Best in Class and Best in Show awards at marching band contests. The DHS winter guard has medaled in the Scholastic A Class the last 15 years in the GCGPC Circuit. Seven times as A class Champions, once as AA Champion and once as Regional A Champion. They were the WGI Pensacola Regional Scholastic A Champion for 2010 and have been semi-finalists at the WGI World Championships 6 times. Mrs. Foster also served as the color guard caption head for the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from 2017-2019. Mrs. Foster has been married to Mark Foster for over 34 years and they have two daughters.
ZOE BUCKNER
Color Guard Instructor
Zoe Buckner has been a color instructor for Robertsdale High School since 2024. She is a graduate of Foley High School, where she marched in the guard program from 2017-2020. She and her husband are both retired from the United States Navy. She is currently working on her Bachelor's in Criminal Justice at Southern New Hampshire University.
MARK FOSTER
Director of Percussion, Drill and Show Design
Mark Foster has been the Director of Percussion at Robertsdale High School since 2018. He was a music educator for over 30 years and retired from Daphne High School as the Associate Director and Percussion Instructor. He received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from Memphis State University and his Master of Arts Degree in Music Education from Louisiana Tech University. He was a charter member of the Memphis Blues Brass Band in 1980 and 1981 as a tenor player.His organizational activities included the ABA District 7 Chairman from 2001 - 2003, Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit from 2010 to 2012, and a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Committee in 2006 and 2007. Mr. Foster is a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, NAFME, and the Percussive Arts Society. Individual accomplishments include: Daphne High School Teacher of the Year, Daphne High School Hall of Fame, the Gulf Coast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit Hall of Fame, and was awarded the National Band Association Citation of Excellence Award.
DAVID COLLINS
Mr. David Collins has been the Director of Bands at Central Baldwin Middle School since 2022. His duties consist of teaching the 7th and 8th grade bands at Central Baldwin Middle School, and assisting with the Robertsdale High School Band. Mr. Collins graduated from Oak Mountain High School in Birmingham, AL in 2013 and was under the direction of Mr. Jim Duren and Mr. Kevin Ownby. Mr. Collins attended the University of South Alabama, where he was a member of the Jaguar Marching Band and graduated with his Bachelors in Instrumental Music Education. He served as section leader for three years, was the principal saxophonist for the Wind Ensemble for five years, and was an undergraduate teaching assistant in his last year for the Jaguar Marching Band. Mr. Collins arranged music and wrote drill during his time as teaching assistant for the Jaguar Marching Band at USA.
Prior to CBMS, Mr. Collins taught private lessons throughout both Baldwin and Mobile County Public Schools, and also served as the Band Director at Summerdale School, and as Assistant Band Director at Elberta High School. Mr. Collins is a member of the National Educators Association (NEA), Alabama Education Association (AEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA), the Alabama Bandmasters Association (ABA), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. Mr. Collins resides in Daphne, AL with his wife, Mrs. Callie Collins.
CRYSTAL TOMECEK
6th Grade Band Director- Robertsdale Elementary, Silverhill Elementary
Ms. Tomecek earned a Bachelor's of Music Education and Master of Science in School Counseling from Mississippi State University. Her primary instrument is the flute. Although she is from Mississippi, an Alabamian stole her heart. Her husband is from the Fairhope area but initially started school at Silverhill his first year. After they graduated Mississippi State University , they both found work locally and she happened to land a job teaching at her husband's original home school! With each year she hopes to improve as a teacher, educator, band director, musician, wife, and person. She believes this is exactly where she needs to be and appreciates this community's support and dedication to the arts.
DEANNA LEPA
Mrs. Lepa graduated from University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Music Performance. She then did her graduate work at the University of Florida. While there, she performed in the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Clarinet Ensemble, and New Music Ensemble. She has performed with various orchestras and in many pit orchestras for musicals. She is currently the band director at Loxley Elementary School, Rosinton Elementary School, and Stapleton Elementary School. She lives in Loxley with her husband and 2 sons.