LSHS Marching Band Mr. Sargent

Mr. Kyle Sargent has been named as the Assistant Band Director/Choral Director at LSHS.  Mr. Sargent has finished his third year of teaching band, and has worked in Monroe County (Forsyth, GA) since he began his career in 2011.  In Monroe County, Mr. Sargent served as Director of Bands at Monroe County Middle School and Assistant Director of Bands at Mary Persons High School. Under his direction, the Monroe County Middle School Band saw explosive growth in participation and achievement.  Annual enrollment in 6th grade band doubled from when he arrived, and an even larger class is expected in the '14-'15 school year.  Mr. Sargent also assisted in establishing the 4th and 5th grade band program in Monroe County.   The 7th and 8th grade Bulldog Band consistently achieved Excellent and Superior marks at Large Group Performance Evaluation, and could be found performing anywhere from Middle School football games to downtown Atlanta to the University of Georgia. More students are participating in regional honor bands, all-state band, UGA Midfest, pep band, and taking private lessons than ever before.

     Mr. Sargent also served as Assistant Director of the Mary Persons High School Black and Gold Bulldog Brigade Marching Band.  The Brigade achieved, for the first time in over a decade, its first straight Superior ratings and class championship when he arrived in 2011.  Since then, the band has received consistent Superior and Excellent marks and has scored competitively in AA and AAAA competition.  The band will number over 100 marchers next year, and will be the largest band at Mary Persons High School in almost 30 years.

     Before becoming the Director of Bands in Monroe County, Mr. Sargent attended and received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia. While at UGA his most notable accomplishments included graduating magna cum laude, achieving both Dean's list and President's List Honors several times, being principal tuba of the UGA Wind Symphony and Wind Ensemble, Sousaphone Section Leader of the the Redcoat Marching Band, serving as logistics chief for Midfest and Janfest music festivals, serving as camp counselor for the UGA Summer Music Program, and being a brother and Parliamentarian of Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Fraternity for College Band Members

     Mr. Sargent grew up in Snellville, GA, and is incredibly excited to be returning to teach in the Atlanta area.  He his getting married this summer and is looking forward to starting the next chapter of his life at Lithia Springs High School with his future wife, Lisa, and beagle, Stella.

     Mrs. Emily Lightener has been hired as the Color Guard Instructor.  Emily Lightner started  colorguard in 2001at Lithia Springs High School.  During her time there she participated in the
Marching Lions, as well as the Inaugural Winterguard, in which the group won 2 silver medals  and a gold medal in the Southeastern Colorguard Circuit and WGI.
    After high school, Emily attended Jacksonville State University and earned membership in the
world renowned Marching Southerners Colorguard.  Emily was a member of the JSU Colorguard
for 3 years from the fall of 2005 to the fall of 2007.
     During this time, Emily was able to perform across the country in exhibition for thousands of
eager and upcoming students, parents, family and friends. Emily began teaching guard in 2007.
She has had the privilege of working with groups in Alabama and Georgia. In 2012 Emily began
consulting with the Lithia Springs Indoor Drumline.  She was an important part of developing the
Visual and movement program. Emily ha been the Marching Lions Colorguard instructor since 2013.
    Emily graduated from Jacksonville State University with a degree in management and human
resources. She is currently the Executive director of a local art gallery in Austell.
    Emily married her husband, Andrew Lightner, and now has a little girl, Anna Grace.    Emily Lightner is looking forward to another wonderful season with the LSHS Marching Lions!