​​BAND STAFF

Andrew Messerli
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​Andrew Messerli is the Director of Bands at Grain Valley High School, where his teaching responsibilities include leading the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and 160 member Marching Eagles. Bands at Grain Valley consistently achieve at a high level, with the percussion and wind ensembles both recently performing at the Missouri Music Educators Conference, and the Marching Eagles finishing the 2022 season as Bands of America St. Louis and Indianapolis Super Regional Finalists, and Grand National Semi-Finalists.
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From 2008 to 2023, he served as Assistant Director at Francis Howell Central High School, where he taught AP Music Theory, directed the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Bands. Under his baton, the bands consistently earned high praise from clinicians and high scores in evaluated events. In 2019, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the Missouri Music Educators Conference; a first for Francis Howell Central High School, and the first time a concert band from the Francis Howell School District had been selected in 45 years. Concurrent with his responsibilities at Francis Howell Central, Mr. Messerli was also the Assistant Director at Saeger Middle School, where he co-directed the 7th and 8th grade bands. Additionally, Mr. Messerli served on numerous district curriculum writing committees, as the district secondary music PD leader, and as webmaster for St. Louis MMEA Metro District 8.

Mr. Messerli holds a bachelor’s degree in Music with Teacher Certification from Eastern Illinois University (2005), a masters in Comprehensive Music Education from Bowling Green State University (2008), and is a National Board Certified Teacher. Before moving to Grain Valley, Mr. Messerli was the principal euphonium and frequent guest conductor for the St. Louis Wind Symphony, and co-founder and conductor of the St. Louis Youth Wind Ensemble. Mr. Messerli holds active memberships in MMEA, NAfME, MBA, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, and the American School Band Directors Association. 

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Shane Batchelor
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Mr. Batchelor coordinates all percussion activities for Grain Valley Bands. He leads the marching percussion ensemble for the Grain Valley Marching Eagles, and conducts three ability-based percussion ensembles at Grain Valley High School.  Mr. Batchelor also teaches 6th, 7th, and 8th grade percussion classes at South Middle School and leads the Middle School Drumline.  The 2023-24 school year is his fifth year serving Grain Valley Schools.
Mr. Batchelor is an alumnus of the University of Missouri-Columbia, the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, Freedom Indoor Percussion, and Francis Howell Central High School.  He is an educational artist for Innovative Percussion and serves in the marching community as an active arranger and adjudicator.  Mr. Batchelor resides in Grain Valley with his wife, Molly, son Oliver, and their three pets, Poppy, Soots, and Moby.

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Josh Farris
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​Mr. Farris is the Director of Bands at North Middle School, where he conducts the 6th and 7th grade woodwind classes, the 8th grade band, and all percussion classes. He has been at North MS since 2012. Prior to his time in Grain Valley, Mr. Farris worked as a percussion instructor at Kickapoo High School in Springfield, Missouri from 2007 to 2012.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Missouri State University, and a masters in Instructional Design and Education Technology from Western Governors University.

Mr. Farris is a member of MMEA, NAfME, NEA, PAS, and has served as assistant percussion coordinator for MCCGA. He lives in Blue Springs with his wife, Megan, and children Charlie, and Lucy.

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Molly Batchelor
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Mrs. Batchelor is the Director of Bands at South Middle School, where she teaches 7th and 8th grade concert bands and 6th grade woodwind classes. In addition, Mrs. Batchelor coordinates all Jazz activities in the Grain Valley Middle School bands, and is the woodwind coordinator with the Grain Valley Marching Eagles.

​Mrs. Batchelor grew up in Collinsville, IL and studied music education at Missouri State University, where she earned a degree in Music Education with a performance diploma distinction in 2014 under Dr. Jill Heyboer. She later earned her Master of Music in Education in 2021 from Missouri State University. Molly has 12 years of teaching experience, serving as an assistant director at Willard Public Schools for 5 years and beginning her 7th year in Grain Valley.

Molly is a flutist in the Kansas City Wind Symphony and maintains a flute studio in the Grain Valley area. She lives in Grain Valley with her husband, Shane, and son, Oliver.

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Casey VanBiber
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Mr. VanBiber attended Blue Springs High School, graduating in 2003. After high school, Mr. VanBiber attended Missouri State University, where he  earned his bachelor’s degree in music education, and later attended UMKC, where he earned a masters in music education.

Prior to teaching in Grain Valley, Mr. VanBiber taught in the Blue Springs School District for 13 years at Blue Springs South, Moreland Ridge Middle School, and Delta Woods Middle School.
​Outside of teaching, Mr. VanBiber enjoys spending time  with his wife, Angela, and his two daughters, Charlotte and Amelie.
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Ben Sachs
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​Ben Sachs is currently an Associate Director of Bands in the Grain Valley School District.  At Grain Valley, Ben assists with the Marching Eagles, directs the Eagle Jazz Lab Band, as well as teaches 6-8th grade band at Grain Valley North Middle School.

Ben received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Central Missouri. Ben then received his Masters of Music in Trombone Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.  While there, Ben studied with world-renowned trombonist Carl Lenthe and participated in the Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Steve Allee Jazz Ensemble, and Trombone Choir.  Ben is a member of MMEA, NAfME, and MBA and was the recipient of the 2022 MMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator Award.  Ben lives in Blue Springs, MO with his wife Aly, and dogs Bruno and Penny. 

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Araya Penfield
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​Miss Penfield is currently a Special Education Teacher at the High School, teaches the Color Guard class for the Marching Eagles, and coordinates the Varsity Winter Guard. Additionally, she helps with the technique, choreography, and show design of the MS and Junior Varsity Winter Guard programs during their respected seasons. As of Fall 2021, Miss Penfield is beginning her 6th year with the program.
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Miss Penfield is an alumna of Grain Valley High School where she participated in the Color Guard and
​Winter Guard, 2010-2013. She continued her education at the University of Missouri – Kansas City (2013-2019), where she graduated with degrees in Political Science and History in December 2019. While attending UMKC she was able to perform and compete with the University of Central Missouri Marching Mules and Winter Guard during the 2015-2016 seasons. Miss Penfield is currently working towards her Masters in Special Education through Missouri State University. 

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Valentina Romo
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Ms. Romo is the Assistant Director of the Color Guard program for Grain Valley Bands and the Head Junior Varsity Director of the Winter Guard program. She started as a tech for the program in 2021 and became the Assistant Director in the fall season of 2024. 

​Ms. Romo started her Color Guard journey in 2015 when she walked into a random activities audition. She had no idea what the activity was, she just wanted to try something new going into high school. Color Guard quickly became one of her biggest passions and she was able to spin all 4 years of high school (8 seasons), with our very own Grain Valley Color Guard. As an alumni, she strives every day to do her absolute best for the program that raised her. 

​Ms. Romo graduated from Park University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration. She currently works as the Sales and Marketing Director for her family’s company. Outside of coaching and working, Ms. Romo loves to read and is always open to recommendations. 

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​Tech Staff

Nyemah Etienne - Guard

Chris McDonald - Guard

Aly Sachs - Guard

Caleb Link - Percussion

Scott Overfield - Percussion

Keren Rosario - Percussion

Camihle Williams - Percussion

Maddison Fetterly - Winds

Marty Garles - Winds

Tyler Kropp - Winds

Alyce Newman - Winds