MEET OUR STAFF
DR. KELLY DESJARDINS
Director
Dr. Desjardins (Day-jar-den) is honored to continue the traditions of the Rodriguez Viper Band. She has seen so much growth in the last 6 years and cannot wait to see where these students go! She has been teaching for over 20 years and taught middle school in both Denton and Frisco ISDs. She has been nominated for "Teacher of the Year" by her peers, placed in the top 10 for the TMEA Honor Full Orchestra, and commissioned new music. She has been published in the Teaching Music Through Performance Vol 11 and 12, and been a university supervisor for the UNT Start up the Band program. What she is most proud of, however, is watching her student's growth and success! While she teaches all the beginner brass, Dr. D also gets to assist with Symphonic Band, team teach Jazz Band, and work with Honors Band.
Dr. Desjardins completed her doctorate in music from UNT in 2018 where she studied with Eugene Milgiaro Corporon and holds a Master in Music Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she studied with Jack Stamp. She received her bachelors degree in Music Education with a French horn concentration from UNT as well. She is a member of the Texas Band Masters Association, Texas Music Educators Associations, and College Band Directors National Association.
Dr. Desjardins is married to her high school sweetheart and they have lived in Denton for 20 years! Some of her favorite things about Denton include the Christmas Tree Lighting, the Community Market, and the Denton Arts and Jazz Fest (all of which have to do with food!!) She has two amazing boys and loves to read, be outdoors, be involved in her church, and spend time with her family. She also has a rescue black lab named Zak (who loves to chase rabbits, ducks, and anything that moves).
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MRS. SANDY OSBORNE
Associate Director
Ms. Osborne is in her 15th year of teaching and this will be her 7th year as Assistant Director of Rodriguez Middle School. Previously, she has taught in Houston, TX; Red Wing, MN; Dallas, TX; and Fort Worth, TX. Her experience includes early child education, elementary music, and middle and high school band. She is grateful and super excited to be able to be a part of a school’s legacy of excellence, and so early on its history!
Ms. Osborne works with all the students in the RMS Band program, but more specifically with the woodwind beginners, the Jazz and Symphonic Bands. She received her Bachelor in Music Education from Sam Houston State University in 2008, with flute and saxophone as her primary instruments. In addition to teaching, Ms. Osborne has played with several community
groups, most recently being the East Fort Worth Community Jazz Ensemble. She is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Educators Association. She has also presented clinics on gamifiying band and how to integrate technology into the music classroom at TMEA and in surrounding states.
Ms. Osborne lives within Denton ISD with her family: her husband, Robert, who repairs
instruments; her son, KG, and daughter, MJ. Some of her favorite things to do includes making memories with her family and friends, arts and crafts, geocaching, and discovering new things in and out of my community. Go Vipers! Go Band!
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MR. ALAN MILLER
Percussion Director
Alan Miller currently lives in Denton, TX where he serves as percussion director for the Braswell High School Cluster. Past positions include two years as band director at Lee Freshman HS in Midland, TX, five years as assistant percussion director and marching band program coordinator for Guyer High School in Denton, TX and six years as percussion coordinator for Coppell High School in Coppell, TX.
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Alan is one of two percussion arrangers/composers for The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. He has been teaching the front ensemble since 2002 and was the staff coordinator for the corps from 2012-2015. In his first year as front ensemble arranger (2011) The Cavaliers received the prestigious Fred Sanford Award for outstanding percussion at the Drum Corps International World Championships. Alan is currently the sole arranger/composer for Cavaliers Indoor Percussion (formerly Green Thunder Percussion), a WGI Independent World Class finalist. Prior to that he served as Music Director for Metro Alliance Indoor (2005-2007) and as the front ensemble arranger for Gateway Percussion (2012).
Alan has arranged both battery and pit music for several Texas state marching band finalist bands including Coppell High School and Dripping Springs High School. He is currently the front ensemble arranger for Flower Mound High School, 2016 Texas UIL State Marching Band Champions and back-to-back winners of the Bands of America Super Regional in San Antonio. Alan has also arranged for marching bands and indoor percussion ensembles across the county and has presented clinics throughout much of the United States and in Japan.
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Alan attended and received his bachelor's degree from West Texas A & M University, where he studied percussion with Dr. Susan Tariq and conducting with Dr. Gary Garner. Alan is an Innovative Percussion educational artist and is published through Tapspace and Drop6.
BRASWELL HIGH SCHOOL DIRECTORS
Mr. Aaron Snipes and Mr. Taylor Sitzman
We are so fortunate to have such amazing high school directors! They regularly come and work with our students! See their more about them HERE