Sumner High School is located in the heart of the City of Sumner in north central Pierce County, approximately 40 miles south of Seattle and 15 miles east of Tacoma, at the intersection of the Puyallup and White River.  A 4A, 4 year high school, the Spartans have an unusually large band program for a school this size.  Why? The man at the helm: Band Director Joe Carl.  He's tough but reasonable. He exposes the band students to a well rounded experience of marching, spirit and concert performances and competitions. But mostly, he fosters a community within the school--the band is its own "tribe"-- and Joe Carl keeps it fun. He demands a lot from these students, and he gets it.