Jennifer Borders
Director of Bands, Wind Ensemble
Jennifer Borders is a Texas native, having graduated 8th in her class from McGregor High School. While at McGregor High school she served as Drum Major for the Bulldog Marching Band for 3 consecutive years, served in numerous community service outreach programs, was an All-State Lincoln Douglas debator, and an All-State saxophonist. She received her Bachelor of Music from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2002 and her Master of Educational Administration with Principal Certification from Texas A&M Commerce in 2012. During her time at Stephen F. Austin, Mrs. Borders served as Drum Major of the Lumberjack Marching Band under the direction of Brian Britt and Christopher Anderson for 3 consecutive years. She also studied saxophone with Dr. John Goodall and Dr. Brian Utley, and was a 4 year member of the Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Symphony under the direction of Mr. Fred Allen. In college she also performed with the pep band and combined orchestra. She has been a Band Director for 21 years and has worked for Mesquite ISD for 19 of those years.
During the 2017/2018 school year, Mrs. Borders was named Vanston Middle School Teacher of the Year. In the Spring of 2020 Mrs. Borders completed the Excellence in Teaching Incentive Program for Mesquite ISD and is a Classroom Scholar. She has served as a clinician and adjudicator for several districts including Garland, Forney, and Chapell Hill ISD’s. Mrs. Borders has also been the guest clinician at multiple All-Region Band Clinics. Under her direction bands have won consistent Sweepstakes awards as well as Best In Class awards.
Mrs. Borders takes pride in growing large quality band programs and helping kids learn not only music but how to be a successful member of our community. Mrs. Borders enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Henry and three sons Sean, Cade, and Noah.
Professional affiliations include Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Bandmasters Association.
Lacy Brown
Associate Director, Symphonic Band
Lacy Brown has been an Assistant Director at West Mesquite High School since 2008. Her primary responsibilities include directing the Symphonic Band and team-teaching the marching band and other ensembles. Ms. Brown also assists with the Advanced and Intermediate bands and teaches beginning brass at A.C. New Middle School.
During her membership in the Whitesboro High School Band, under the direction of Mr. Pat Autry, Ms. Brown was a member of the ATSSB All-State Symphonic Band for four years. She was also selected as an “Outstanding Performer” three times at the Texas U.I.L. State Solo & Ensemble Competition. In 2002, she graduated Valedictorian from Whitesboro High School. Beginning her collegiate studies, Ms. Brown graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Arts in Music Education from Texas Woman’s University in 2005. During her student teaching at Argyle High School, Ms. Brown was fortunate to work with Ms. Cindy Mikel, Mr. Chris Burke, and Mr. MichaelLemish as they led the Argyle marching band to win the 2A State Marching Competition.
Continuing her education, she was awarded a Graduate Brass Assistantship at Texas Christian University and was principal euphonium in the Wind Symphony, under the direction of Mr. Bobby Francis. In 2008, she graduated with a Masters of Music in Instrumental Performance (Euphonium).
Among her collegiate accomplishments, Ms. Brown was a finalist at Regional International Tuba/Euphonium Conference competitions, as well as a semi-finalist in the International Leonard Falcone Euphonium and Tuba Competition in 2007.
Ms. Brown has studied euphonium with Mr. David Graves, Dr. Brian Meixner, Mr. Ed Jones, and Mr. Richard Murrow. Ms. Brown’s professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association and the International Tuba and Euphonium Association.
In 2018-19 school year, Ms. Brown was named the West Mesquite High School Teacher of the Year.
Michael Gibson
Associate Director, Concert Band, Jazz Band
Michael Gibson received his academic training at Northwestern State University of Louisiana in Natchitoches, LA. As a performer at NSU Michael played both Bass Clarinet and Saxophone in the Wind Symphony under the direction of Mr. Bill Brent. He was also on the the Spirit Of Northwestern Demon Drumline under the direction of Mr. Ken Green, the Spirit of Northwestern marching band under the direction of Dr. Jeff Mathews, the NSU Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Mr. Galindo Rodriguez, the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and other various chamber ensembles.
Michael Gibson joined the West Mesquite band program in 2010. Prior to his time in MISD Mr. Gibson served as assistant director of bands at Creekview High School, Dan F. Long and Blalack Middle Schools (Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD) and assistant director at both Garland High School and Austin Academy for Excellence in Garland ISD. Bands under Mr. Gibson's direction and assistance have earned superior ratings at University Interscholastic League, Marching, Concert, and Sight Reading Contests.
As an active performer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Mr. Gibson has had the opportunity to perform with many well respected musical groups such as Johnny Earthquake and the Moondogs, The Crosswinds Jazz Band, Metro-Praise Orchestra, Metropolitan Winds, Celebration Jazz Band, Ken Savage and the Best Kept Secret and the Dallas Jazz Orchestra where he can be heard on their 2006 CD Kenton Portraits- A Loving Salute released by Tantra Productions.
Mr. Gibson enjoys spending his free time with his wife, Brooke and kids, Conner, Peyton, & Brandon.
Mr. Gibson is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, and is a Classroom Scholar for the Excellence in Teaching Incentive Program.
DAN DUDNEY
Associate Director, Director of Percussion
Dan Dudney serves as the Associate Band Director/Director of Percussion for the West Mesquite cluster. He oversees all percussion curricula and activities for the high school and its area middle schools. Mr. Dudney received his undergraduate degree in Music Education/Percussion from Abilene Christian University and holds a Masters of Music from Texas Tech University.
Prior to his time at West Mesquite, Mr. Dudney served as the Director of Percussion at Bellaire High School in Houston, Texas. In this role, he oversaw the percussion program, which consisted of the drumline, indoor percussion, and various percussion ensembles, as well as the jazz program, which consisted of a full jazz ensemble and several smaller combos. Under Mr. Dudney's direction, the Bellaire percussion studio enjoyed competitive success on many levels, earning several student placements in district/region honor bands, multiple First Divisions at region/state Solo & Ensemble Contest, and consistent top-3 rankings at Texas Color Guard Circuit (TCGC) indoor percussion events. He has worked with several percussion programs across the state, and, while student teaching at Abilene High School, he helped lead the percussion section to its 1st place caption award in Percussion Performance at the West Texas Tournament of Bands.
Mr. Dudney has also thrived in his own performance career, having earned a wide array of accolades/recognitions and serving several leadership roles for various ensembles. He holds the 1st place title of the 2012 Individual Solo Competition in the collegiate marching snare drum division at Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) with his original composition entitled, "…What?". Mr. Dudney has performed in regional, national, and global settings, and holds memberships in several professional organizations such as Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA), Percussive Arts Society (PAS), and Mu Phi Epsilon; he is also endorsed as a Vic Firth/Zildjian scholastic educator.
Go Wranglers!
Arturo Villegas
Director of Bands, Honors Band- A.C. New Middle School
Mr. Arturo Villegas has been the Director of Bands at AC New Middle School since 2015. Under his direction, the Band of Knights has earned Superior ratings at UIL Concert & Sight Reading contest, as well as at Peak and Directors Choice Festivals.
Before teaching in Mesquite, Mr. Villegas taught in Crystal City, TX where he served as the Visual Coordinator for the Mighty Javelina Band and as Director of Bands for the Sterling H. Fly JH Mighty Mustang Band. The MJB placed 9th at State Marching Contest in 2010 and consistently received Best in Class accolades at marching contests. At Fly JH, the band received consistent Sweepstakes awards at UIL and placed an average of 35-40 students in the All-Region Band.
Mr. Villegas has had the privilege of teaching and performing at home and abroad. In 2014, he was invited to teach at the Summer Music Camp held by École de Musique Sainte Trinité in Cange, Haiti. There, he conducted the camp’s Advanced Wind Ensemble, taught lessons and master classes to low brass and jazz bass students, and performed on tuba with L'Orchestre Philharmonique Sainte Trinité. In 2006 Mr. V. marched contra with the Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps from Milwaukee, WI and went on tour as a contra tech during the 2007 tour.
A first-generation college graduate, Mr. Villegas attended Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX. In college, Mr. V. took advantage of several opportunities like studying abroad in Costa Rica, joining the Kappa Kappa Psi band service fraternity, and performing with the Sound and the Fury marching band in the London New Year’s Day parade. He also performed in several ensembles and served as the principal tuba in the Wind Ensemble, the sousaphone section leader in the Sound and the Fury, and played upright/electric bass in Jazz Ensemble 1.
Mr. Villegas lives in Mesquite with his wife, Melody, and their children, Ian and Fiona. The Villegases are members of White Rock UMC. When Mr. V. is not serving the band students of AC New, he spends time perfecting his skills in the kitchen, practicing piano, planning trips with Mrs. V., and chasing his kids around the house.
Jerrilyn Young
Assistant Director of Bands, Concert Band- A.C. New Middle School
Jerrilyn Young is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. She graduated from Destrehan High School.
Throughout her four years of attending Destrehan High, she served as a Librarian, Flute Section Leader, Band Captain, and Front Ensemble Section Leader in Indoor Drumline. After graduating high school, she worked on staff as a Marching Visual Technician for Destrehan H.S. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Louisiana State University (LSU). She was a member of The Golden Band From Tigerland. By her second year in the band, she was nominated and selected to be a paid student staff member as a librarian. It gave her the opportunity to work directly with the marching and concert band directors including Dr. Dennis Llinas, Dr. Damon Talley, Dr. Roy King, Dr. Kelvin Jones, and Dr. Clifton Croomes. Primarily a flutist, Jerrilyn Young has placed first in competitions, won scholarships, and performed in Paris, France. She’s performed in LSU’s Orchestra, Philharmonia, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Tigerband (marching band).
Jerrilyn is a first-generation college graduate who is now a band director. She has been teaching for two years and is beginning her third year of teaching in the great state of Texas. In Louisiana, she held an itinerant position at LeBlanc Elementary School and Erath High School. At the elementary school, Ms. Young taught Beginning Band (5th Grade) and General Music (Prek-4th Grade). She spent the other half of her day as an Assistant Band Director at Erath H.S. There, she assisted with the marching band as well as the Symphonic and Concert Bands. Jerrilyn Young is a motivated, highly knowledgeable, and energized educator with a strong foundation of music education, community outreach, leadership, and a passion for encouraging our youth to develop a lifelong excitement for music.
Ms. Young is new to Texas and is excited to begin teaching in Mesquite ISD!
Kevin Thomas
Director of Bands, Honors Band- Frasier Middle School
Kevin Thomas is starting his 30th year of teaching. Currently he is the Head Band Director at Frasier Middle School. Previously he was the Head Band Director at Wilkinson Middle School. Before coming to Mesquite ISD in 2012. Mr. Thomas has also taught in Grand Prairie ISD and Garland ISD.
Under his direction, his bands have received consistent Sweepstakes Awards at UIL. His students have excelled individually by earning First Divisions at Solo & Ensemble and earning placement in All City Band and All Region Bands.
Mr. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Lebanon Valley College in Annville, Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Trombone Performance from The Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam) in Potsdam, New York. He attended University of North Texas where he was a Teaching Fellow of Trombone. At UNT he performed and recorded with many outstanding ensembles including the North Texas Wind Symphony.
He is a freelance Trombonist and has performed and recorded with many ensembles in the DFW Metroplex including; C3 Big Band, Celebration Jazz Orchestra and Dallas Jazz Orchestra. He lives in Allen with his wife Shellye and sons Christopher and Evan.
Lupita Martinez
Assistant Director, Concert Band- Frasier Middle School
Lupita Martinez is in her 5th year of teaching and is the assistant director at Fraiser Middle School. Prior to teaching in Mesquite, Ms. Martinez taught in Nevada, TX for Community ISD teaching both middle and high school for 4 years. During her time there she led the non-varsity band at their first appearance at the UIL Concert and Sightreading evaluation in 2019. She then became the head director in 2022 and increased the number of all-region band students, retention of the overall band program, and achieved a Sweepstakes at UIL with the varsity ensemble.
Ms. Martinez received her Bachelors in Music Education at the University of North Texas. There she studied flute under Dr. Mary Karen Clardy and participated in many ensembles including the UNT Concert Band, the Green Brigade Marching Band, the UNT Flute Choir, and the UNT Mariachi Aguilas. She also served as Drum Major for the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps in 2017 and on the administration team in 2018.
Ms. Martinez is a Mesquite native and attended Mesquite ISD PreK - 12th. She graduated from North Mesquite High School in 2014. Being a part of the Big Blue Band she served as section leader for 3 years and on the band council. It has been a dream of hers to teach at her home district. In her free time she loves spending time with her family and her dog Chico, playing on her Nintendo Switch, working out, and traveling.