Jeff Fountain is in his first year as the director of 7th and 8th grade bands at Vernon Middle School in Marion, Iowa.  He is responsible for the marching band, concert bands and jazz band, along with several music exploratory classes.  Jeff is also the assistant high school marching band director at Marion High School.  

Prior to teaching, Jeff attended the University of Northern Iowa and studied trumpet with Dr. Randy Grabowski.  While at UNI, Jeff performed in the jazz bands, concert bands, marching band, pep band, and trumpet ensemble. He also has three years of experience performing in Drum and Bugle Corps beginning in 2005 with the Colts from Dubuque, Iowa, the Madison Scouts from Madison, Wisconsin in 2006, and finally with the World Champion Blue Devils from Concord, California in 2007.

In his spare time, Jeff enjoys playing and watching baseball and golf.

Kim Specht is the director of Fifth and Sixth Grade Bands for the Marion Independent School District in Marion, Iowa.  Kim has sixteen years of teaching experience, most recently at Monticello and Central City.  Bands under her direction have received consistent Superior ratings at NEIBA Large Group Festival.

Kim received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa.  She is a member of the Marion Education Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Iowa Alliance for Arts Education, and the National Piano Guild.

Kim is the director of the Monticello Men’s Choir and has taught private piano lessons for 25 years.  She and her husband, Paul, farm near Monticello and, together, have six grown children.  Kim enjoys gardening, raising sheep, and fiber arts.