The History of the Cherokee Charmers
In 1984, the Cherokee Charmers were organized and made their debut. A new era had begun at Jacksonville High School.
In their first three years, the Charmers were under the direction of Marilyn Simmons Brown. Their first years consisted of performances at JHS activities as well as special appearances at Lon Morris basketball games, Christmas parades, and attending camps and clinics. In 1985, the Charmers held their first annual Spring Show.
In 1987, Rebecca Ganong took over the direction of the Charmers who continued their special appearances and Spring Shows. They also traveled to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for their first ever drill team trip.
In 1991, Christie McCullough became director of the Charmer Drill Team. Under her direction, the Charmers traveled as far as Washington D.C., where they marched in the National Independence Day Parade. They also participated in the Adolphus Christmas Parade opening number, and marched in the Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Victory Parade.
In 1999, the Charmers came under the direction of Deidra Wood, who directed the Charmers for three years. In 2002, the Charmers were selected to dance at Disney World where they were guest performers at “Disney’s Magic Music Days.”
In 2002, Katie Griffin became the director of the Charmers, and directed the team for 5 years. Under her direction, the Charmers won various awards at the Gussie Nell Davis Dance Classic, as well as other competitions they attended. The girls continued to make special appearances in Jacksonville and perform at various JHS activities. In November 2004, she started a new tradition. Each year, the senior Charmers have the opportunity to travel to New York City and perform in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with Mike Miller and Associates.
In 2006, Katie Snyder became the first assistant director of the Cherokee Charmers. She was a former member from 1998-200, and the 2000-2001 Captain. At the end of the 2007-2008 school year, Ms. Snyder resigned as the assistant director and began working with the Jacksonville FFA full time.
In 2007, Brie Garcia became the director the the Chamers. Under her direction, the Charmers continued to uphold the traditions and values former Charmers hold so dear. In November, she traveled with the senior Charmers to New York. In January she took the Charmers' Captain to the Texas Dance Educator's Association Convention in Houston, TX, where she was a semi-finalist for the TDEA dance scholarship. The Charmers' Captain was able to learn from world famous choreographers, as well as dance with the top high school dancers throughout the state of Texas. The Charmers competed at the Gussie Nell Davis Dance Classic, at Kilgore College, and brought home Sweepstakes, the Gussie Nell Davis Award of Excellence, Judge's Award for Novelty, 1st Place Academic Award of Excellence. The Dance Company won the best in class for medium ensemble, and the officers won Sweepstakes and the Gussie Nell Davis Award of Excellence.
In 2008, the Charmers will be under the direction of Ms. Erica Melton. More information will be available soon.
The Cherokee Charmer Drill Team is made up of young ladies who are in 10th-12th grade. Freshmen planning to try-out for Charmers are required to take Pre-Drill, where they learn a lot about drill team, and the tryout process. Students must also meet grade, attendance, and behavior requirements, in order to be eligible to tryout. For more information, please contact the Charmer office at 903-589-3501.