Staff Spotlight: Marvin Battle, GCHS

By Chris Mitchell '95

Every Friday (or Monday this week) throughout the 2026-27 school year, Granite City Community School District #9 will be highlighting a staff member for going above and beyond to give students a positive experience.

This week's staff spotlight features Granite City High School Assistant Principal Marvin Battle.

Battle has worked in education for more than 30 years. He began as band director at Greenville High School in Bond County from 1994 to 1996, then joined the Edwardsville Community School District as assistant band director from 1996 to 2000. 

From 2000 to 2018, he served as director of bands, district coordinator of instrumental music and fine arts department chair. He went on to serve as an assistant principal from 2018 to 2021 and coordinator of alternative programs in 2022. Battle has been with GCSD9 for four years and currently directs the Evening Academy.

“Principal Marvin Battle deserves to be recognized for his kindness, fairness, intelligence, and genuine empathy for both students and staff. His love for the students shines through in everything he does, and his dedication to creating a supportive and caring school community makes him truly deserving of this recognition,” said a fellow staff member.

He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1994 with a Bachelors of Music Education Degree, and then obtained a Masters of Arts in Educational Administration degree from McKendree University in 2013.

Battle sat down with us to talk about what inspired his career in education, how the Evening Academy helps students succeed, his lifelong passion for music and the hobbies he enjoys outside of school.

What inspired you to pursue a career in education?
When I was junior in high school it was a struggle thinking about what my life choices were going to be. I thought about being an electrician, a doctor, and all of the usual things.  However, I was very fortunate to have two teachers in high school who were so inspirational they completely changed my life. They were my Band Directors. David Drillinger and later Marie Allen.  I thought to myself, they are so cool. I could see myself doing. I wanted to be just like them. What is better than being able to touch people’s lives every day and inspire them to become greater than they ever could imagine they could be. That is what inspired me.   

What is the Evening Academy, and how does your role leading it help students succeed?
The Evening Academy Program is an extension of Granite City High School and has similar safety measures in place to ensure the safety and well-being of both students and staff.

The program operates on a block schedule, with each class lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. The schedule is designed to mirror a hybrid, college-style format that allows students to focus on fewer classes each day while still maintaining a full academic load. Students attend three classes on Monday and Wednesday and three additional classes on Tuesday and Thursday, giving students six in-person classes within a four-day rotation.

Fridays at Evening Academy serve a special purpose within the program and is designated for Work Study and as an Edgenuity work day. During this time, students focus on their Edgenuity online coursework, which supplements their teacher-led instruction and supports the credit recovery component of the Evening Academy Program.

The Work Study (Co-Op) Program allows students to gain real-world work experience while earning elective credit. Students who successfully participate in the program earn elective credit by maintaining a job, working the required number of hours each week, and submitting documentation of their work hours for verification. Through this flexible structure, the Evening Academy Program provides students with multiple pathways to stay engaged in school, recover credits when needed, and continue progressing toward graduation.

While the Evening Academy offers a different schedule and learning format, it remains fully connected to Granite City High School. This connection is an important part of creating the whole student experience. Students enrolled in the program are still able to participate in many of the traditions and activities that bring our school community together, including Homecoming, Prom, and Friday night and weekend events at the high school. No matter the pathway a student takes, they remain part of the same community.

Music is an important part of your life. How did that passion begin, and what role does music play in your life today
David Drillinger (Mr. D) was my band director my freshmen year. He was tough teacher with high expectations. Honestly, many of us were scared to make a mistake because he was a perfectionist. Marie Allen (Mrs. Allen) was just as fierce of a competitor and protectionist but her approach was completely different.  So, I got the best of both worlds and my high school experiences helped hone me into the type of teacher I wanted to be. A passionate teacher with high expectations. I never thought of myself as being talented or a musical prodigy, but I had the will and desire so I wasn’t going to fail. I was the first in my family to go to college. My older brother and sister went into the Marines when they graduated. So, this was new territory and more pressure I placed on myself to succeed. Now here I am. While Director of Bands in Edwardsville we won more than 600 awards with our bands and ensembles. However, the awards didn't matter to me. I have so many great memories of watching my students succeed in band and in life and that was important to me. My role changed when I became an Administrator, but my love for music never did. 

When you’re away from GCHS, what other hobbies and interests do you enjoy?
I've never been a person who could just sit and be idle. When I was younger, I used to play PlayStation and video games, but I don't anymore. After my life as a Band Director I brushed up on my piano playing and became the piano player for my church's praise band. I also had a drill writing business for the past eight years. I write/create drill designs for bands and ensembles throughout Missouri and Illinois. I am a marching band judge. I am hired by schools to judge marching band competitions three to five weekends each fall in Illinois, Missouri, and next year Arkansas too.  I enjoy music and percussion arranging and have written the percussion music for our high school band for the past three years.  While these hobbies and interests keep me busy, I also enjoy family time with my wife and son. Sheila and I are huge sports fans. Most weekends are full of us watching college and professional men and women's sports, especially track and field. We have enjoyed going to Brandon's track meets from middle school through college, even now as he's an Assistant Track Coach at the University of Arkansas.  We travel to Arkansas when we can to watch their indoor and outdoor track meets and use that as a time to getaway recharge and refresh.

If you would like to nominate a deserving staff member, please email: information@gcsd9.net