Gary D. Gribble has been the Director of Bands at Pope High School since its opening in 1987. Under his guidance, the Pope Concert, Marching, and Jazz Bands have earned consistent Superior ratings and numerous awards from area and regional events. The Band Program at Pope has grown from its initial 92 students to over 290. Pope offers four symphonic bands, a 240 piece marching band, a jazz ensemble, and a percussion ensemble. Students are also encouraged to participate in woodwind choir, brass choir, brass quintet, woodwind quintet, saxophone ensemble, flute choir, trumpet choir, and trombone choir.

Mr. Gribble earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Georgia State University. He also holds an Associate of Science Degree in Commercial Music from Georgia State. Prior to his arrival at Pope, he taught one year in Dekalb County, Georgia as the Assistant Director of Bands at Redan High School, and two years as Assistant Director of Bands at Lassiter High in Cobb County, Georgia.

Mr. Gribble earned a fine reputation as an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. He has designed marching shows for bands across the southeast. His articles have been published in both "Fanfare" and "Today's Music Educator." He was on staff as a choreographer and production assistant for the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Gribble is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Band Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, International Trumpet Guild, and the Percussive Arts Society. He was cited in 1987 as an "Outstanding Young Man of America," was selected for inclusion in the 1989-1990 edition of "Who's Who in American Education," was Pope High School's "STAR Teacher" in 1989-1990, and is listed in the 1992 and 1995 editions of "Who's Who Among America's Teachers." The Pope Marching Band, under Mr. Gribble's guidance, was awarded the 1992 "Sulder Shield of Marching Excellence" by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. In February 1994, Mr. Gribble has twice been awarded the recipient of the National Band Association "Citation of Excellence" for outstanding contributions to band and band music. He was named the 1994 state winner of the ASBDA "Distinguished Band Director" award. The Pope Marching Band has been selected to receive the National Band Association Citation of Marching Excellence for 1995. In 1999, Mr. Gribble was named a member of the Bandworld Legion of Honor and National Award of the John Phillip Sousa Society. In May 2001, he was featured on the cover of “School Band and Orchestra Magazine.”