Staff

Priscilla Plank-Sammons
Auxiliary Director (The Rage)

Since 1979, Priscilla Plank has served as an Auxiliary Director in various schools in Southeast Florida including Jupiter High School, Jupiter Middle School, Murray Middle School, Palm Beach Gardens High School, South Fork High School, and Dwyer High School, and for the past 15 years, has been the Director of "The Rage" Flag Corps at VBHS. During this time, her groups have never received less than "Superior" at any FBA District Marching or Indoor MPA or other type festival or competition. Under her direction, the group has also received a host of top placement awards at various Indoor Guard Competitions including, Deerfield Beach, Naples, and St. Augustine.  In 1998, she was named the "Employee of the Year" at Oslo Middle School.  For the past several years she has been employed in the Autistic Programs at Dodgertown Elementary School, Citrus Elementary School, Sebastian River Middle School, and most recently at Storm Grove Middle School.

Mr. Putzke is a native of Michigan but calls Vero Beach “home.”  He is a 1990 graduate of Vero Beach High School during which time he was an avid band member and percussionist. Mr. Putzke received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of South Florida. While pursuing his degree, he taught private lessons and gave numerous clinics for several Florida schools. In January of 2000, Brandon and his family returned to Vero Beach where he joined the teaching staff of Indian River County. He is currently the music specialist at Liberty Magnet Elementary and the Percussion Director for Vero Beach High School. His elementary and high school ensembles have continually received superior ratings at contests. Mr. Putzke has recorded several CD’s with his elementary and high school groups and with professional talents from all over the state. He has performed with a number of orchestras, bands, choirs and solo acts, and performs regularly with local bands, such as Old Barber Bridge, the Vero Beach Orchestra, and several theatrical productions. Mr. Putzke is a current member of the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA), Percussive Arts Society (PAS), the co-founder/director of the Treasure Coast Percussion Camp, and has received his National Board Certification. He is an educator endorsee of Pro-Mark sticks and mallets.  Mr. Putzke is the 2010 Teacher of the Year for Liberty Magnet and enjoys teaching music to students from kindergarten through college.

Michael Sabonjohn is a native of Vero Beach and grew up in the IRC school district music programs.  He was a percussionist in the superior-rated VBHS Band for four years and in the Choral program for two years, participating in District, State and Solo and Ensemble competitions.  During his senior year, he served as the Percussion Section Captain and received the Semper Fidelis Award from the United States Marine Corps for Musical Excellence.  He was awarded a four- year music scholarship to attend Stetson University and was a member of the Stetson University Symphonic Band, Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble.

Mr. Sabonjohn was one of a few members of the distinguished Roland George Investments Program at Stetson and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2005 double majoring in Finance and Accounting Information Systems with a minor in Electronic Business Technology.  He graduated in 2010 from Florida Atlantic University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.  He is employed by Gulfstream Business Bank in Stuart, working in commercial loans.

Mr. Sabonjohn has volunteered for the Crown Jewel Festival for many years and has been assisting the Vero Beach High School Band Program since 2008.  He especially enjoys teaching, mentoring and giving private lessons to the many talented percussionists in the area.