If you have ever gone to a high school football game and noticed at halftime a new face cheering the marching band from the sidelines. Meet Olivia Brown, the math teacher and color guard coach. Since joining the program, Brown has made a huge impact on the color guard.
Brown’s leadership role in the color guard is not her first experience in marching band. Since elementary school, Brown’s parents were involved in the marching band at Kenowa Hills High School.
“From a very young age, we went and watched the marching band. I started freshman year and worked my way up to captain for my senior year,” Brown said.
Though the color guard does not play instruments, it is an instrumental aspect of the marching band performance.
“Color guard is a part of the marching band, and we use flags, rifles and sabers to emphasize what the marching band is playing and bring visuals to the music on the field,” Brown said.
Throughout Brown’s four years of color guard, she became more determined to be the best. During her senior year, she was, as previously mentioned, honored as the captain of the color guard. Her love and passion for the activity never stopped.
“I’ve always wanted to coach or get back to being a part of the color guard in some way,”
She got the chance to return to her passion when the high school band director Greg Wells reached out for assistance for the 2023 band season.
“When Mr. Wells was looking for somebody, and I said I can do it, and I’ve loved it ever since I agreed to it,” Brown said.
Band members could visibly see the progress the color guard was making during the season under her coaching.
“I saw an improvement in the color guard’s performance, and I would credit Ms. Brown for their hard work,” junior and alto saxophone player Gabe Jones said.
Still, Brown was also in a juggling act of her own, planning out both the color guard’s drills for practices and grading homework, and making teaching plans.
“If I knew I had a practice, I would stay here at school until all of the grading was done, and on practice nights, I would give myself a break from practice and grading,” Brown said.
To some, Brown brings more than coaching to the color guard. Race Mashburn, a sophomore color guard member, feels Brown has brought out the best in the color guard and brings more to the group.
“She is more than just a coach to me,” Mashburn said. “I go to her sometimes when I need help, and I like to talk to her.”
Race firmly voices that. Brown has been a big aspect of the color guard’s success on and off the field.
“I think we have gotten closer as a team. we are a closer-knit family with Ms. Brown,” Mashburn said.
