History
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 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 were under the direction of Ms. Erica Melton. In 2009, Carrie Chandler took on the position of Charmer Director and directed the team for four years. In her tenure at JHS, she took the Charmers to numerous competitions including the Gussie Nell Davis Classic and MA Regionals in 2010, and MA Regionals in 2012. Mrs. Chandler also took the Charmers to Sea World to compete at the Danceline Sea World competition in San antonio, Texas on December 2011.
In 2013, Laura Guidry became the director of the Cherokee Charmers after being an Assistant to Mrs. Chandler in 2012-2013. In the 2013-2014 school year, she took the Charmers to the Gussie Nell Davis Dance Classic in Kilgore, Texas where they won 23 awards at contest. The most acclaimed awards the Charmers won were the Highest Overall GPA, Best of the Best, Best in Class Team, and Best in Class Officers. The Charmers came out on top of the entire competition, competing against other teams from all over Texas and Louisiana. In 2014, the Charmers celebrated their 30th anniversary.
In 2023, Madison (Madie) Montgomery became the director of the Cherokee Charmers.
The Cherokee Charmer Drill Team is made up of young ladies who are in 9th-12th grade. Anyone planning to try-out for Charmers are asked to take Pre-Drill, where they learn all they need to know 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.