During one or more of the class periods throughout the school day, students will be scheduled into Encore classes. These courses meet daily for either a quarter, trimester, or semester. All sixth, seventh, and eighth-grade students take these classes, but not all in the same twelve-week period. The 6th graders will have a semester of LA Plus with their core teachers and a quarter of Music and a quarter of Art. The 7th-grade Encore classes are LA Plus, Art, and Music. The 8th-grade Encore classes are LA Plus, Health, Art, and Tech Integration.

Encore Team Teachers: Greg Allen, Jeffrey Brauns, Randy Gindler, Valerie Haas, Matt Herndon, Zach Plocher, Jay Robertson, Courtney Sellers, and Shannon Wesselmann.

Mr. Allen holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a Master of Arts in Education from Greenville College. Greg is a third-generation school band director.

His maternal grandfather worked for forty-one years as a school band director in Hammond, Indiana. Both of his parents are retired band directors. A brother is a band director in Champaign and another brother is an administrator for the School Of Music at U of I. The Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Greg in 2010. He was awarded the National Band Association Citation of Excellence in band performance for 2011. Mr. Allen was inducted into the American School Band Directors Association in 2012. Greg serves as principal tuba in Saint Louis Wind Symphony and prior to that, played for the St Louis Brass band. He performs as a free-lance musician throughout the St. Louis region. He has participated as guest conductor for Highland Municipal band, St. Claire County Honor Band, Madison County honor band and Greenville College band. He served as IMEA Junior Band chairman, hosted Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) solo contests and IMEA District VI Auditions.

Mr. Greg Allen
Director of Bands
gallen@highlandcusd5.org

Mr. Brauns earned his Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Greenville College in 1989, his teaching certification in 1992, and his Master’s degree in Elementary Education from SIUE in 1995. His teaching career began in 1992-93 in Highland School District at Grantfork, Alhambra, and New Douglas. He followed that up with three years teaching 5th grade at Highland Elementary. The past 25 years have been at HMS. He coached 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade basketball. Currently, he is the JV golf coach for boys. He lives in Highland with his wife Susie and two children: Ben (21) and Jake (18). In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, biking, watching sports, and spending time with his family at the lake.

Mr. Jeffrey Brauns
Language Arts
jbrauns@highlandcusd5.org

Mrs. Haas received a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management with an emphasis in Athletic Training from SBU in 2002 and her teaching certificate in 2023. For the past 18 years, she has served the Wesclin community in various capacities as their Athletic Trainer, substitute teacher, and PE Teacher's Aide. She lives in Trenton with her husband Mark, and 3 sons, Adam (17), Noah (14), and Judah (6). In her free time, she enjoys watching her son's events and activities, gardening, reading, traveling, and serving in her church.

Mrs. Valerie Haas
Physical Education
vhaas@highlandcusd5.org

Mr. Herndon graduated from SIUE with a Bachelors of Science in Physical Education in 1996 and received his Master's in Kinesiology with an emphasis on Sport Management in 2007. He previously worked at Wood River Jr. High where he taught physical education and was athletic director for 22 years. He coached boys and girls basketball at the jr. high while coaching boys and girls soccer at East Alton-Wood River HS for 24 years. He also served several years as the junior varsity boys basketball coach.

He came to HMS in 2020. He currently teaches 6th-8th physical education and is the athletic director.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Allison, and four kids (Katie, Kiley, Harper & Holden). He also enjoys watching his favorite team, the University of Illinois "Fighting Illini", watching college sports, and collecting sports memorabilia.

Mr. Matt Herndon
Athletic Director/Physical Education
mherndon@highlandcusd5.org

To be determined
Tech Integration

Mr. Gindler teaches 6th and 7th Grade General Music at the middle school, as well as 5th Grade Beginning Band at Highland Elementary. Prior to coming to Highland, he spent almost 30 years teaching in the Pattonville School District in St. Louis County first as a music teacher and then as a technology specialist. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music Education from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and has also completed an Educational Leadership program at SIU Edwardsville.

When not at school, Mr. Gindler is a professional musician in the St. Louis area and has performed with numerous ensembles including The St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra, The Gateway Festival Orchestra of St. Louis, The Alton Symphony, and The Highland Muny Band. He also works as a freelance musician in various orchestral and jazz ensembles and is a member of the Latin salsa band, Tropical Mood of St. Louis.

Mr. Gindler lives with his wife and son on a small farm in the area where they raise sheep, goats, chickens and honeybees. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and biking.

Mr. Randy Gindler
General Music
rgindler@highlandcusd5.org

Mr. Plocher graduated from Highland High School in 2015. He earned an associate degree from Kaskaskia College and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Greenville University in 2020. He taught at Roxana Junior High School from 2020-2023. At Roxana, he taught 6-8th PE and Drivers Education, while coaching Boys and Girls Varsity Tennis and Junior High Boys Basketball. Currently, he teaches 6th through 8th grade PE, and 8th-grade Health, along with coaching the Varsity Girls Tennis Team for Highland High School. He lives in Highland with his wife Maddisen Plocher and two dogs: Wimbley and Aussie. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis, basketball, golf, watching sports, and taking on home improvement projects with zero home improvement skills. Mr. Plocher looks forward to being a Bulldog again and helping the youth of this great community.

Mr. Zach Plocher
Physical Education/Health
zplocher@highlandcusd5.org

Mr. Robertson

Mr. Jay Robertson
Physical Education/Health
jrobertson@highlandcusd5.org

Mrs. Sellers graduated from Highland High School in 2006. She graduated from Webster University with a B.A. in Studio Art and a B.A. in Education k-12. Currently, Mrs. Sellers is attending Lindenwood University to obtain her Master's degree in Education Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Sellers began her art teaching career at COCA Arts Creative Camp in St. Louis in 2010. She joined the Highland Middle School staff in 2011. In her spare time, she enjoys her time with her two daughters, husband, and three dogs. She loves being outdoors, attending art galleries and fairs, thrifting, and vintage shopping, and drinking her weight in coffee.

Mrs. Courtney Sellers
7th/8th Grade Art
csellers@highlandcusd5.org

Ms. Wesselmann is the middle school and high school choir director.

Ms. Shannon Wesselmann
Choral Music Director, Grades 6-12
swesselmann@highlandcusd5.org