William J. Shipley

Having accumulated over 30 years of teaching experience, Mr. Shipley is a proven leader in the field of music education, specializing in jazz, trumpet, euphonium, guitar, and bass guitar. Having recently retired, he formerly served as a music teacher and band director with the Leon County School Board and at Fort Braden Middle School. Over the course of his career, he held similar positions at Taylor County High School, Holmes County High School, Graceville High School, and North Florida Christian School. Adjacent to his primary duties as an educator, Mr. Shipley also honorably served with the 151^st Army National Guard Band between 1995 and 2016. To commemorate his dedication in the field, he was recognized as the Teacher of the Year in 1992 and 2016.

Prior to beginning his vocational journey, Mr. Shipley pursued his own education, earning a Master of Science in social science from Florida State University in 1990. In addition to his primary career endeavors, he has also participated as a member of several musical groups in Tallahassee, Florida, including the Tallahassee Winds and the Tallahassee Swing Band. As part of his commitment to his profession, Mr. Shipley has remained affiliated with Phi Delta Kappa International, the Florida Music Education Association, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and the National Association for Music Education. Over the course of his career, he has largely attributed his success to his genuine desire to see his students learn and succeed, and he is particularly proud to have won numerous competitions with many of the bands he has directed. As part of his retirement, Mr. Shipley looks forward to playing golf, gardening, and starting his own band.