After 16 years, Whigham band director moves to write his next verse

Brad Moore, who resides in Bainbridge, asked to be released from his contract in order to work as band director at Hutto Middle School where he will lead the 5th and 6th grade band. The Grady County Board of Education voted Tuesday night to honor Moore’s request.

“Whigham and Grady County have been great to me,” says Moore. “It’s been a great 16 years. I’m very thankful to the board of education of Grady County and the administration of Whigham School, and of course to the parents and students.”

Even with Moore’s untimely departure, Whigham will continue to have band under the direction of Amy Amaro. Mrs. Amaro, who is the band director for Shiver School, will add the Whigham band program to her duties during the coming school year. The loss of a full-time music teacher, however, will mean the loss of general music classes at Whigham and Shiver for the coming year. New agriculture classes for kindergarten through 8th grades will offer an extra-curricular option for students, though, according to school officials. The Grady County Board of Education is expecting to advertise in the spring for a candidate to fill the band director position full-time or to hire a general music teacher.

Moore, 39, said he is proud of the Whigham band program. “I feel like the condition of the band is excellent. We received superior ratings for the last 15 years. The support from the parents and the kids, who are extremely hard working, has made it easy for me to be able to sustain that throughout the years,” he says.

Cairo High School band director John Scanling says he was glad the school system was able to fill Moore’s post to allow him to take advantage of this career opportunity. “He gave us 16 great years. We wish him the best in Decatur County,” Scanling says. “We are very excited about Amy Amaro teaching band at both Shiver and Whigham. She’s a great teacher. She will step in at Whigham without skipping a beat.”