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Teacher Spotlight: Brandon Lipford
Teacher Spotlight: Brandon Lipford

As we begin a new year, we want to highlight our choir director, Mr. Brandon Lipford. Since coming to Lutheran East, Mr. Lipford has made a huge impact and has been given the enormous task of having our school be known for having an excellent choir. We currently have 100+ members who perform at our various concerts throughout the school year. We are truly blessed by Mr. Lipford’s tireless efforts in working with our students.


Let’s hear what Mr. Lipford has to share:


L.E.: What is your favorite Bible verse or quote?


Mr. Lipford: “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)


L.E.: Tell us about your family.


Mr. Lipford: I have been married to my beautiful wife for 5 years, and we have a wonderful 1 and 1/2 year old son, named Noah. My parents, Terry and Phyllis, raised me. I have an older brother Terry II, and a younger sister, Camille. Terry has a 9 year old daughter -- my niece, Jordyn -- and Camille has a 4 year old daughter, Astrid. Nearly my whole family now lives in Ohio, but going back to my Grandfather, my family’s roots are in West Virginia.


L.E.: Tell us about where you went to college.


Mr. Lipford: I went to Fordham University, in the Bronx, NY. Fordham is a Jesuit school, located in metropolitan New York, and was a great place for me. I was drawn to New York, more because of the presence of the music industry there, than Fordham. However, I made great friendships and had a wonderful time, as I studied Marketing in the College of Business Administration. I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in 2004.


L.E. Tell us about your hobbies or sports you are interested in


Mr. Lipford: I love basketball -- both playing and watching. I grew up, obsessed with Michael Jordan, and played basketball at every level possible since I was about 9 years old. I am also a college football fan, and like playing football (touch nowadays). I was a halfback/running back from middle school through my freshman year of high school.


For hobbies, I am a huge movie fan and love creative films like Inception, Avatar, and Signs. I am also a lover of classics like The Godfather and (in my consideration) The Usual Suspects.


I like to write songs, rap (Christian), and develop new ideas.


L.E.: If you had to choose Ohio State or Michigan, which would it be?


Mr. Lipford: Ohio State


L.E.: Why did you decide to become an educator?


Mr. Lipford: I was moved into education by the opportunity to teach gospel music. Worshiping the Lord is something I am passionate about, and the chance to share that passion, through teaching music to young people, was a great fit for me.


I am also a Youth Leader and teen/college Sunday School teacher at my Church. I have taught Vacation Bible School for many years as well, and know that GOD has gifted me to teach.


Additionally, I taught GED preparation for many years and found it incredibly rewarding to help young people, who had not experienced educational success before, overcome challenges and earn their GED's.


L.E. : Anything else you would like us to know about you?


Mr. Lipford: In 2006, I founded and launched a not-for-profit organization called The Greater Expectations Intercontinental Sacred Arts Society (GEISAS -- pronounced 'Jesus'). GEISAS provides training and education in the sacred arts (music, dance, instrumentation, writing, etc.) and ministry coaching to sacred artists and ministers. Since 2009, GEISAS has facilitated sacred arts workshops throughout the state of Ohio.


We are truly blessed to have Mr. Lipford’s experience and wisdom and leadership for our choir. As is the case with many teachers, Mr. Lipford’s talents and expertise are often understated on a daily basis. That is what makes this time so great-- it gives us a time to focus on our teachers with a wider perspective of who they are as people, and not just as teachers. We wish Mr. Lipford and his family many blessings throughout the new year!