Tate High School Names Interim Director Of Bands After King Resignation

October 6, 2018

Jakob Wisdom has been named the interim director of bands at Tate High School.

He replaces former Tate High School Showband of the South director Roy King who was placed on administrative leave in August. King has since resigned, Escambia County School District Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross said Friday.

“As of today, we are announcing that Mr. King will not be returning to Tate Band,” Tate Principal Rick Shackle told band students Friday, according to an email sent to band parents. “…We are currently working to provide Mr. Wisdom some assistance with an Interim Assistant Director of Bands. As for now, this program will move forward and continue to function as it has been since the start of the school year.”

“I apologize for the strain that has been on the Tate Band program since the start of this school year. I am grateful and appreciate the students, parents, and band staff for doing everything in their power to keep this program together,” Shackle said.

Wisdom was born and raised in Pensacola and was a student in the Ransom Middle and Tate High band programs. He received his bachelor degree in music education from the University of Southern Mississippi. He expects to complete his masters degree in Music Education next summer from Florida State University.

While at the University of Southern Mississippi, Wisdom worked as a marching band technician and marching band drill designer for numerous band programs from Florida to Mississippi, including his alma mater. Also during college, he marched in the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps that toured and performed in major athletic venues across the United States.

After receiving his undergraduate degree, Wisdom taught at Ferry Pass Middle School for a short stint before relocating to St. Augustine with his wife who is also a band director. While in St. Augustine, Mr. Wisdom was the director of bands and music teacher at Ponte Vedra High School for two years.

Wisdom is in his third year as a band director at Tate. He and his wife celebrated the birth of their firstborn child at the beginning of this school year.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Friday that an investigation involving King is continuing after unspecified allegations were made, but further details have not been released.

Pictured: Tate High Interim Director of Bands Jakob Wisdom. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Tate High School Names Interim Director Of Bands After King Resignation”

  1. Michelle Smith on October 9th, 2018 9:40 pm

    I have known Jacob since he was a teenager. He went with me on a mission trip to El Salvador. I remember being so impressed with his willingness to work and his unselfish nature. He was mature beyond his years. From the sidelines I have seen those qualities continue to grow into the fine young man you see today. He is an excellent role model for the students he will mentoring. He is the band director they will remember for a lifetime.

  2. Tate Alumni on October 8th, 2018 11:39 am

    It says he is the Interim Head band director. This means that he is the band director for the mean time. They are still looking for new director

  3. Scot Dixon on October 6th, 2018 1:08 pm

    Mr. Wisdom is an excellent band director and a good man. He demonstrates maturity beyond his years and is well respected among both the band students and their parents. As a parent of two sons in the band, I am thrilled that he is officially continuing to fill the head director position. He has done an amazing job not only holding things together but also pushing the kids to excel and continue to perfect this year’s show. He is supportive of the kids both on and off the field and is firm yet respectful in how he deals with them.

    I went through the Tate band program myself and hold its continued excellence as an important priority. Although I have no vote, I am very discriminating when it comes to the selection of a new band director. Having said that, it is my sincere hope that the school and county leadership select Mr. Wisdom to fill the permanent head band director position at Tate. He is deserving and qualified, and he is a man of character. It would be a shame if the principal and/or school board put someone else in the position strictly based on a few more years of experience. As a Tate alumnus and dedicated musician, Mr. Wisdom can help to restore The Showband of the South to its glory days.

    That’s my 2 cents. :-)

  4. Carol S on October 6th, 2018 12:24 pm

    Mr. Wisdom is a great man respected by the staff and students. I look forward to his placement as head band director becoming permanent. He has been an amazing asset this year. He made sure the students were effected as little as possible by the situation. Glad they are moving forward.

  5. Dbpensacola on October 6th, 2018 11:33 am

    This is well deserved. The kids and parents respects Mr Wisdom. The Showband
    has not suffer this season because Mr Wisdom stepped in and pulled it all together. He has had a full load – while waiting on the arrival of a new baby. Now our district needs to make him Head Band leader . Congratulations-

  6. James Morehouse on October 6th, 2018 9:07 am

    This young man has done a tremendous job. The students have a tremendous respect for him and it shows in their attitudes and performances. The band is very lucky to have him.

  7. Band geek on October 6th, 2018 8:41 am

    I hate it for the band kids but Jakob will do a fine job leading them to do good things. Congrats Jakob!

  8. Jdub on October 6th, 2018 8:29 am

    As a band parent, it will be nice to see this program be able to move forward from this weird little black cloud that seems to have been lingering over the Showband this school year. The kids really love Mr. Wisdom and he is such a great young man and allows the kids to have some fun with band. I’m proud for Mr. Wisdom to be officially leading the Showband now as interim director and I know that my band kid is happy about it too. Many kids did not care much for Mr. King for many reasons. I pray that the investigators get to the bottom of the allegations and all is handled appropriately. Many, many rumors floating around about Mr. King….he needed to go!

  9. Past THS band student and band booster on October 6th, 2018 8:29 am

    This is the way it should be. An alumni band student coming back and becoming director of the program. I had always hoped to see this happen!