Mr. McConnell has been the Director of Bands at South Paulding High School since 2014. A resident of Villa Rica, Mr. McConnell graduated from Lithia Springs High School in 2003. It was at Lithia Springs High School that he met the love of his life, Mrs. Mary Frances McConnell. He attended The University of Georgia and graduated in 2007 with his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. Mr. McConnell was a four year member of the University of Georgia's Redcoat Band, where he served as a saxophone player, saxophone section leader, and drum major. In December of 2018, Mr. McConnell earned his Master's Degree in Music Education from The University of West Georgia. Mr. McConnell is currently in his eighteenth year of teaching. Over those eighteen years his bands have won multiple awards and accolades.
Mr. McConnell was the South Paulding High School Teacher of the Year for the 2018-2019 school year. Mr. McConnell was the Lithia Springs High School Teacher of the Year for the 2012-2013 school year and the Douglas County School System High School Teacher of the Year for the 2012-2013 school year. Mr. McConnell is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, where he served from 2018-2020 as the Georgia Music Educators Association District Chair for District VII. Mr. McConnell is also a member of the National Association for Music Education. Mr. McConnell currently serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair at South Paulding High School. The South Paulding High School Band, under the direction of Mr. McConnell, was awarded the Georgia Music Educators Exemplary Performance Award in 2018.
Mr. McConnell’s bands have performed both domestically and internationally. In 2015, Mr. McConnell led the South Paulding High School Band to London to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade. In February of 2019, Mr. McConnell led the Spirit of South Paulding Marching Band to Hawaii, where they performed at Pearl Harbor. In 2023 the Spirit of South Paulding performed in the Hollywood Christmas Parade. Mr. McConnell has three sons: Ian, Jonah, and Bennett.
Andrew Lightner - Assistant Band Director
Dr. Lightner directed Point Indoor Percussion, a WGI percussion
finalist as well as Point Winds Theater, a two time medalist at WGI World
Championships in Dayton, OH. Lightner is an avid arranger, sound designer, and
clinician throughout Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. He holds a Master of Arts
in Music Education from Jacksonville State University and a Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University.
Throughout his continuing education Dr. Lightner has had the privilege of performing and learning from some of the best artists and clinicians available including: Clint Gillespie, Tony McCutchen, Mark Ford, She-e Wu, Blake Tyson, along with many more. Dr. Lightner’s ensembles continue to receive high rankings and accolades. Beyond the classroom Dr. Lightner enjoys camping, auto and motorcycle mechanics, spending time with family and friends, and traveling to new places.
