Staff
Rebecca Curtin - Band Director
Rebeca Curtin is the Director of Bands at Brookwood High School. This is her first year at Brookwood High School but her 4th year in education. Her responsibilities at Brookwood include conducting the Symphonic Band, directing the Coal Valley Jazz Ensemble, and leading the Crimson Star Band.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Alabama majoring in Music Education with a focus on instrumental music. While at Alabama she performs with The Million Dollar Band for three seasons (piccolo) and the Alabama Concert Band (flute) for eight semesters.
Rebecca Curtin lives in Hoover, Alabama with her husband Jack and dog Buster. When not at work she enjoys reading, listening to Taylor Swift, and watching The Office.
Beth Lee - Auxiliary Sponsor
Brookwood High School is my alma mater. I attended Brookwood Elementary and then went on to the high school and graduated in 1984. I marched in the Brookwood High School band from my 7th grade year through my 12th grade year. Three of those years I marched as a clarinetist and the last three years I was a majorette becoming head majorette my senior year.
I met my husband through the band and have been married 33 years. Our son and daughter went to Brookwood and our daughter, Gabrielle, marched as a clarinetist for five of the seven years in the Crimson Star Band. Coming to teach at Brookwood High School felt like coming home. There is nothing greater than being a Brookwood Panther.
Lisa Bentley - Auxiliary Sponsor
My name is Lisa Bentley. I am a proud graduate of BHS! My husband and three children are also fellow panthers. We LOVE Brookwood! I am a registered nurse who spent almost 20 years in the field of nursing, 17 of which were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This is year five for me as a health science teacher, HOSA advisor and the Crimson Star Band visual ensemble co-sponsor. I am a football mom but I LOVE my band kiddos and am so proud to be a part of their team!
Taylor Barnett - Indoor Drumline Co-Director, Percussion Tech
Hi! I am Taylor Barnett, and I am a Brookwood Native. I attended the University of Alabama and received my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (Multiple Abilities Program) in 2017 and finished my master's degree in 2022. I have worked in the Tuscaloosa County School System for six years and I am very excited for this new adventure at BMS! I will be teaching 6th Grade Science and a Greenhouse elective. When not at school, I am typically at the Marching Band Field teaching the Percussion Section, or camping with my husband, Dustin. Go Panthers!
Dustin Barnett - Indoor Drumline Co-Director, Percussion Tech
Hello. My name is Dustin Barnett, and I am excited to have the opportunity to be at Brookwood High School teaching history and percussion. I graduated from Brookwood some years ago and went on to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Alabama. I have since completed two graduate degrees at the University of West Alabama where I finished an Education Specialist degree in 2022. I have extensive experience in the marching arts and have been teaching percussion for about 15 years. When I am not in the classroom or at the marching band practice field, I like to spend my time in the gym and camping with my better half, Taylor.
Jessica Thomas - Guard Instructor
My name is Lisa Bentley. My husband Mark and I are proud graduates of Brookwood High School! We have three fantastic children who also attend Brookwood. This is my second year as the Crimson Star Band Auxiliary Co-sponsor. It has been so much fun and I'm so excited to continue the adventure!
Kayla Pharr - Majorette Instructor
Hello! My name is Kayla Pharr, and I graduated from Brookwood High School in 2022. I was involved with the Crimson Star Band as a majorette for four years, and I had the unique opportunity to return and coach just after graduating. I have 14 years of twirling experience, including competitive and field twirling. When I am away from the band field, I enjoy being outdoors and going on adventures with my dog-child, Apollo! I also use my spare time to write and journal as an aspiring children’s author. I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education Language Arts with a minor in Spanish. My dream is to share my passions by pouring into the future generation of twirlers, while also building lasting connections and relationships with my students in my future classroom!
Kayla Brown - Dance Instructor
My name Kayla Brown and I am the dance instructor for the Crimson Star Band at Brookwood High School. I graduated from Brookwood in 2021 and returned a year later to begin coaching the dance line in 2022. I have always had a passion for dance and have been dancing since I was four years old. I have also twirled for the Crimson Star Majorettes all four years of high school. I am currently getting an undergraduate degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and plan on going to Occupational Therapy School after I graduate. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my friends, visiting my family and my dog Molly, doing pottery with my mom, and traveling. My passion currently is to pour into these high school kids and be there for them during these important years. For the future, I want to work with kids of all ages, but specifically children with disabilities so that I can help them figure out ways to have an easier and more convenient lifestyle.