Jennifer Borders
Mrs. Borders is the Head Director for Vanston Bands. Mrs. Borders teaches the Flute, Double Reed, Clarinet, and Saxophone Beginner classes as well as the Vanston Honors Band and Concert Band. She 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 debater, 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. She has been the head band director for Vanston Middle School for 15 years and has taught band for 17 years. During the 2017/2018 school year, Mrs. Borders was named Vanston Middle School Teacher of the Year. Professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Tau Beta Sigma, and Gamma Gamma Sig - National Community Service Sorority. Mrs. Borders enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Henry and their three sons Sean, Cade, and Noah.
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Mrs. Borders is the Head Director for Vanston Bands. Mrs. Borders teaches the Flute, Double Reed, Clarinet, and Saxophone Beginner classes as well as the Vanston Honors Band and Concert Band. She 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 debater, 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. She has been the head band director for Vanston Middle School for 15 years and has taught band for 17 years. During the 2017/2018 school year, Mrs. Borders was named Vanston Middle School Teacher of the Year. Professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Tau Beta Sigma, and Gamma Gamma Sig - National Community Service Sorority. Mrs. Borders enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Henry and their three sons Sean, Cade, and Noah.
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Kris Still
Kris Still will begin his ninth year of teaching as the Assistant Band Director at Vanston Middle School in Mesquite, TX. His responsibilities include direction of the 7th and 8th Grade Symphonic Band, and the Beginning Brass Classes. Prior to his teaching appointment at Vanston MS, Mr. Still has served as the Head Junior High Band Director at Canton Junior High in Canton,TX, Head Middle School Band Director at Tahlequah Middle School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and Assistant Band Director in Collinsville, Oklahoma. Mr. Still's students have maintained a high level of commitment to making music and Bands under his leadership have received Division 1, Superior Ratings, since he began teaching in 2011.
Mr. Still attended the University of Arkansas where he earned Bachelor's degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance. While at the University of Arkansas, he studied trumpet with Dr. Richard Rulli. Mr. Still had the privilege of performing for the 2008 International Trumpet Guild in Banff, Canada as a part of the University of Arkansas Trumpet Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Richard Rulli. Mr. Still performed Trumpet with the Wind Symphony under the direction of Professor Dale Warren. Mr. Still also performed in the University Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Robert Mueller was also a member of the Award Winning University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band.
While in Northwest Arkansas Mr. Still maintained a strong presence in the community as a performer and private lessons teacher. In 2009 Mr. Still was selected as the 2nd Trumpet Player for the Arkansas Philharmonic. Also in 2009 Mr. Still was selected to be a part of the Fayetteville Jazz Collective which is a local Professional Jazz Band that is a strong advocate for the performing jazz arts. Mr. Still also performed in the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the Ft. Smith Symphony.
Mr. Still hails from Owasso, OK, where he graduated from Owasso High School. While there, he served as a three-year All-State Trumpet Player. Mr. Still is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association and is an active performer and clinician. Mr. Still lives in Forney, TX with his wife Megan and their two dogs, Eliza and Penny.
Kris Still will begin his ninth year of teaching as the Assistant Band Director at Vanston Middle School in Mesquite, TX. His responsibilities include direction of the 7th and 8th Grade Symphonic Band, and the Beginning Brass Classes. Prior to his teaching appointment at Vanston MS, Mr. Still has served as the Head Junior High Band Director at Canton Junior High in Canton,TX, Head Middle School Band Director at Tahlequah Middle School in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and Assistant Band Director in Collinsville, Oklahoma. Mr. Still's students have maintained a high level of commitment to making music and Bands under his leadership have received Division 1, Superior Ratings, since he began teaching in 2011.
Mr. Still attended the University of Arkansas where he earned Bachelor's degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance. While at the University of Arkansas, he studied trumpet with Dr. Richard Rulli. Mr. Still had the privilege of performing for the 2008 International Trumpet Guild in Banff, Canada as a part of the University of Arkansas Trumpet Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Richard Rulli. Mr. Still performed Trumpet with the Wind Symphony under the direction of Professor Dale Warren. Mr. Still also performed in the University Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Robert Mueller was also a member of the Award Winning University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band.
While in Northwest Arkansas Mr. Still maintained a strong presence in the community as a performer and private lessons teacher. In 2009 Mr. Still was selected as the 2nd Trumpet Player for the Arkansas Philharmonic. Also in 2009 Mr. Still was selected to be a part of the Fayetteville Jazz Collective which is a local Professional Jazz Band that is a strong advocate for the performing jazz arts. Mr. Still also performed in the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the Ft. Smith Symphony.
Mr. Still hails from Owasso, OK, where he graduated from Owasso High School. While there, he served as a three-year All-State Trumpet Player. Mr. Still is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association and is an active performer and clinician. Mr. Still lives in Forney, TX with his wife Megan and their two dogs, Eliza and Penny.
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Andrew Pouttu is the Director of Percussion for the North Mesquite High School Big Blue Band and oversees the percussion program for the NMHS cluster. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in music education from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where he was awarded the coveted Nordan Young Artist Scholarship as an incoming Freshman. Mr. Pouttu performed in many ensembles on campus including the Wind Symphony, Orchestra, Jazz Band, Steel Bands, Marching Band, Percussion Ensembles, and many smaller chamber groups.
Mr. Pouttu spent the Spring semester of 2019 as the Assistant Percussion Director in Cleburne ISD where he taught percussion grades 6-12 and private percussion lessons for the District. Prior to that, he worked as a percussion technician in Mansfield ISD, Arlington ISD, Weatherford ISD, and Whitney ISD. Mr. Pouttu currently resides in Dallas, Texas with his spunky dachshund, Gertie. In addition to teaching and performing, he enjoys fitness, the outdoors, refurbishing drums, and America's Team–The Dallas Cowboys. |
