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Mike Howard (Leander, Texas) currently serves as Director of Fine Arts, Music and Performing Arts, for the Leander Independent School District. Prior to this, he spent 19 years as a high school band director, most recently in Leander ISD at Vandegrift High School. He was one of the founding directors when Vandegrift High School opened in 2009 and became Director of Bands in 2014. At Vandegrift High School, Howard’s marching bands have been recognized with several high honors, such as the 2019 Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Champion, 4-time BOA Regional Champion, consistent BOA Super Regional Finalist, BOA Super Regional Class Champion, 6A Texas UIL State Marching Contest Silver and Bronze Medalist, and 5A Texas UIL State Marching Contest Silver Medalist. The Vandegrift Marching Band was also awarded the Sudler Shield by the John Philip Sousa Foundation in 2019. Under Howard’s direction, the Vandegrift Wind Ensemble was selected as the 2018 Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) 6A State Honor Band and was chosen as a featured ensemble at the 2021 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. The Vandegrift Concert Band Program was also the recipient of the 2020 Sudler Flag of Honor by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Howard serves music education through state and local leadership roles. He currently serves as Texas Music Adjudicators Association (TMAA) Concert Band Vice-President, TMEA Region 32 Band Division Chair, and TMEA Area E Band Chair. He is also an active clinician around Texas and has served as an adjudicator for Texas UIL, BOA, and Drum Corps International. Howard’s professional affiliations include membership in the American Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, TMEA, TMAA, and the Texas Bandmasters Association. He graduated from Texas State University – San Marcos with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and from Concordia University Texas with a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration. Howard lives in Leander, Texas, with his wife Amber, daughter Madison, and son Justin.