Director of Bands
Monica (Crew) Leimer was appointed Director of Bands at DeLand High School in 2019. Ms. Leimer holds both a bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education (Magna Cum Laude, 2001) and a master's degree in Music Education (2012) from the Florida State University. While at FSU, Ms. Leimer was a member of the Marching Chiefs, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and the Chiefly Brass Pep Band. She studied conducting with Patrick Dunnigan and Richard Clary and flute with Charles DeLaney, Linda Pereksta, and Karen Haid. Ms. Leimer is highly involved with the Florida Bandmasters Association as member several committees and a past member of the State Executive Board. She keeps an active schedule as an adjudicator and clinician throughout Florida and Georgia. Bands under Ms. Leimer's direction consistently receive Superior ratings at FBA District and State Music Performance Assessments.
Prior to DeLand High School, Ms. Leimer was the Director of Bands at Lake Nona High School in Orlando, FL for six years. In 2019 her Wind Ensemble had the distinct honor of performing at the National Band & Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall (NYC). Additionally, her marching band received an invitation to perform in the 2020 London New Year's Day Parade. Prior to Lake Nona High School, Ms. Leimer taught in the Tallahassee area for twelve years. She holds memberships in the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Band Association (NBA), Sigma Alpha Iota, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Florida State University Marching Chiefs Alumni Association as well as the Volunteer Service Team for Alpha Gamma Delta International Women's Fraternity as a Recruitment Specialist. She currently resides in DeLand with her son James (a current DHS band member) and daughter Madison (a current DMS band member, and their cats - Elsa, Molly, Percy, & Dmitri.
Prior to DeLand High School, Ms. Leimer was the Director of Bands at Lake Nona High School in Orlando, FL for six years. In 2019 her Wind Ensemble had the distinct honor of performing at the National Band & Orchestra Festival at Carnegie Hall (NYC). Additionally, her marching band received an invitation to perform in the 2020 London New Year's Day Parade. Prior to Lake Nona High School, Ms. Leimer taught in the Tallahassee area for twelve years. She holds memberships in the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the National Band Association (NBA), Sigma Alpha Iota, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Florida State University Marching Chiefs Alumni Association as well as the Volunteer Service Team for Alpha Gamma Delta International Women's Fraternity as a Recruitment Specialist. She currently resides in DeLand with her son James (a current DHS band member) and daughter Madison (a current DMS band member, and their cats - Elsa, Molly, Percy, & Dmitri.
Percussion Instructor
Jared Johnson is a percussion educator, arranger and performer from DeLand Florida, with over 20 years of service in many great schools, performance ensembles, and companies both locally and abroad. Some of the high school programs Mr. Johnson has been privileged to work with include Tarpon Springs High School and Leadership Conservatory, Seminole High School, Lake Howell High School, Oviedo High School, Winter Park High School, Eastlake High School, West Orange High School, Lake Mary high school, DeLand High School and most recently at Clayton and Cleveland High School's located in Clayton, North Carolina.
Jared has worked as a musician and performer at Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom located at Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and Universal Studios Orlando. He has played in the areas best arenas, churches and concert halls as a freelance musician. Involvement in both Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International have been a consistent presence in Mr. Johnson's career working with several world class groups including the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, Infinity Percussion and the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.
Jared currently resides in his hometown of Deland, FL and enjoys sharing his experiences with the students of his alma mater, DeLand High School.
Jared has worked as a musician and performer at Epcot, Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom located at Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and Universal Studios Orlando. He has played in the areas best arenas, churches and concert halls as a freelance musician. Involvement in both Drum Corps International and Winter Guard International have been a consistent presence in Mr. Johnson's career working with several world class groups including the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, Infinity Percussion and the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps.
Jared currently resides in his hometown of Deland, FL and enjoys sharing his experiences with the students of his alma mater, DeLand High School.
Guard Director
Aaron Dalusung was appointed Color Guard Director at DeLand High School in 2021. Aaron attended DeLand High School, where he performed in the band program playing the clarinet and participating in guard. He later switched fully into colorguard his senior year, finishing out his high school guard career with a bronze medal at FFCC Championships. He also received superiors in 3 solos for FBA State Solo & Ensemble on rifle, flag, and dance. Aaron's passion for guard performance continued to grow as soon after graduating high school. He was a performing member of the Jacksonville University Independent A winterguard in 2019 and 2020. During the 2019 season, JU Independent made its way up to Dayton, Ohio to perform at the University of Dayton Arena and ending the season as a WGI Finalist. JU Independent placed 8th overall in Independent A class. In the year 2021, Aaron marched as a member of UCF Pegasus World, which remained first place throughout the season.
Since high school, Aaron has taught and choreographed for other schools including DeLand High to ensure that students feel the love and passion of being a strong, mature performer. He was born in Guam and moved to DeLand in 2005 where he currently resides with his family. Aaron is a student at Daytona State College currently working towards his Associate of Arts degree.
Since high school, Aaron has taught and choreographed for other schools including DeLand High to ensure that students feel the love and passion of being a strong, mature performer. He was born in Guam and moved to DeLand in 2005 where he currently resides with his family. Aaron is a student at Daytona State College currently working towards his Associate of Arts degree.
Guard Instructor
Lyerra Hernandez was appointed to the guard staff at DeLand High School in 2021. She was born and raised in DeLand and now resides in Deltona, FL. Lyerra attended DeLand High School, where she was part of the colorguard for all four years. Lyerra performed as a member of the Jacksonville University Independent A class winterguard in 2019 and 2020. At the 2019 season, she got to perform at the University of Dayton Arena and ended the season as a WGI finalist with JU Independent placing 8th overall in A class. In September of 2020, she received her Associates of Arts Degree from Daytona State College and is currently working towards her Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in management with plans to graduate in 2022.
Guard Designer
Kevin Griner was appointed to the band staff at DeLand High School in 2019. Mr. Griner studied Business Management and Marketing at The University of North Florida. He has served as an entertainment performer and stage manager for the Walt Disney Company for over 24 years. He toured as a Disney Entertainer and worked for 12 months on board the Big Red Boat representing Disney. Kevin wrote and created the educational auxiliary workshop "Auxiliration" for the Disney Magic Music Days, in addition to hiring and training all color guard clinicians for the workshop. Kevin is a color guard adjudicator for Heritage Festivals, OrlandoFest, and Festival Disney Music Competitions. He also serves as an active color guard adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters Association and as a winter guard equipment judge for the Florida Federation of Judges Association.
Mr. Griner currently serves as the Color Guard Director for the University of Central Florida Marching Knights and WGI World Gold Medalist Pegasus Winter Guard. He is highly sought after as a color guard director and designer for numerous outstanding high school visual programs. In 1991 he was a member of the bronze-medalist Winter Guard program - Alliance of Miami and is a 30 year member and instructor in both the Winter Guard International and Drum Corps International organizations.
Mr. Griner currently serves as the Color Guard Director for the University of Central Florida Marching Knights and WGI World Gold Medalist Pegasus Winter Guard. He is highly sought after as a color guard director and designer for numerous outstanding high school visual programs. In 1991 he was a member of the bronze-medalist Winter Guard program - Alliance of Miami and is a 30 year member and instructor in both the Winter Guard International and Drum Corps International organizations.
Miscellaneous
Jean Diaz was appointed to the band staff at DeLand High School 2019. Originally from San Juan, PR, he currently resides in Orlando, FL. He attended Lake Nona High School where he was a member of the Jazz Band, Marching Band and the Wind Ensemble. Jean started playing euphonium when he was in middle school and kept playing until his junior year in high school when he also began playing bassoon. Jean is recently graduated from Valencia College and plans to study Political Science and International Relations at the University of Central Florida starting in the Spring 2021 semester. Jean is also an avid Disney fan and currently serves as a food & beverage cast member at Disney Springs.