Directors

Mr. Smith is currently in his 16th year as a Texas Music Educator.  Mr. Smith is a native of Henderson, Texas and received his BM from the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston in 2003.  Mr. Smith was inspired to become a band director by his middle school band director, Mr. Tommy Moore.  Mr. Smith follows the lead of Mr. Moore by wanting band to be positive force in every student’s life, and for students to become better people and musicians while being in the GHS Band.

While at the Moores School, Mr. Smith studied trombone with Michael Warny and music education with Eddie Green and Tom Bennett.  Mr. Smith taught at Cypress Springs HS for 11 years, serving as Assistant Director for 5 years, and Director of Bands for 6 years.  While at Cypress Springs, the band earned multiple UIL Sweepstakes awards, as well as being named Best in Class for marching and concert contests.  Mr. Smith was Director of Bands at Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas in 2014-2015.  The KHS Band was a Finalist and Bronze medal winner at the Sam Houston State Marching Festival, and the band earned the UIL Sweepstakes Award, Mr. Smith also assisted the Non-Varsity Concert Band to it’s first Sweepstakes in 9 years.

Mr. Smith is in his 4th year at Georgetown High School, and during his time, the band has enjoyed great success.  The Eagle Marching Band has been a finalist at the Vista Ridge Marching Festival and the Texas Marching Classic all 4 years, in addition to winning captions for Best Music, Effect, Visual, Colorguard and Percussion.  In 2017, the Eagle Band placed 3rd in the UIL Area D Marching Contest and advanced to the UIL 5A State Marching Contest for the first time in 17 years.  The Eagle Band has earned UIL Sweepstakes the past 4 years, and in 2016 and 2018, the GHS Wind Symphony advanced to the TMEA Area D Honor Band round and was runner up to advance to State.

Mr. Smith also assists and conducts the GHS Full Orchestra, which has earned UIL Sweepstakes.  In addition, Mr. Smith conducts the GHS Performing Arts Department Musical, which has been nominated twice for Best Orchestra in the GATSMA competition. In 2018, Mr. Smith was an invited guest conductor for the TMEA Region 27 Freshman Band in Houston, Texas.

Mr. Smith is a member of TMEA, TBA, TMAA, the International Trombone Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.  Mr. Smith lives in Georgetown with his beautiful wife Jessica, and their pets Charley and Ally.

E-mail: smithj9@georgetownisd.org

Mr. Justin A. Smith
Band 9-12
512.943.5100 x7184
Conference Time: 1:00-2:00pm B Days

Mr. Scholten joins GHS as the Associate Director of Bands. Mr. Scholten is excited to become part of the Georgetown Eagle Band Family!

Prior to GHS, Mr. Scholten served as an Associate Director of Bands for Robert E. Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, TX. During his time with Hendrickson, the Hawk Marching Band competed at the 2018 6A UIL State Marching as well as the finals of the 2018 Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional. In the Spring of 2018, his concert ensembles received unanimous 1st divisions at Region 26’s UIL Concert and Sightreading. He also served as the contest director for the State of Texas UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest for 1A-4A schools. He also managed Hendrickson’s private lessons program, overseeing a 22% increase in student lessons enrollment.

Prior to that, he served as a band director in Killeen, TX at Roy J. Smith Middle School, where he taught beginner instrumental classes (clarinet, flute, trumpet, and trombone), instructed the varsity and intermediate concert bands, and managed the logistics of band program. During his first season as the band director, he took the Smith Band to the Region 8 UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest and acquired the school’s first sweepstakes award since 1990.

Along with working as a consultant for bands around the state, he also serves as a music leadership clinician. He has worked with student leaders for five years, most recently as a consultant for System Blue.

Mr. Scholten graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana as the top graduate of his class. During college, he was also member of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver, CO for two seasons. A native of Temple, TX, he has known the Georgetown community for many years. Outside of work, Mr. Scholten enjoys cooking, hiking, and exploring new places.

Eagle Fight Never Dies!

E-mail: scholtenw@georgetownisd.org

Jed Leach has had the privilege of being a Percussion Director in Georgetown ISD since the Fall of 2008. Mr. Leach oversees all percussion studies from grades 6-12 at Forbes and Benold Middle Schools and Georgetown High School, as well as teaching marching percussion, percussion ensemble, concert percussion, and assisting with the GHS Jazz Ensemble . Mr. Leach received his BM in Music Education from Morehead State University in Morehead, KY under the tutelage of Frank Oddis and Dr. Brian Mason.

While attending Morehead State, Mr. Leach performed throughout the United States, China, and Brazil with the MSU Percussion Ensemble and Symphony Band. His additional performances with the MSU Percussion Ensemble include being a featured soloist at the North American Brass Band Association Conference, the Kentucky KMEA Conference, and the PASIC 2003 new music showcase. Additionally, his leadership contributions as MSU Drumline section leader helped lead them to a 1st Place finish at the PASIC 2003 Marching Festival.

Mr. Leach is also an alumnus of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. He was a member of the  tenor line in 2001 and played marimba in the front ensemble in 2002, finishing in the top 6 in DCI both years.

As an educator, Mr. Leach was previously the Percussion Director at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan. During his time there, the PCMB placed first in the state marching competition and placed 9th in the BOA Grand Nationals competition. Under his direction, the PCEP Drumline placed 6th and 10th places in WGI Scholastic World Finals in 2007 and 2008, as well as winning the MCGC State Indoor Drumline Championships both years. Mr. Leach has also taught with the KMEA State Champion Lafayette High School band in Kentucky.

Mr. Leach is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and is a proud Artist/Educator for Evans Drumheads, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, and Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments.

Outside of work Mr. Leach will most likely be found playing and practicing Disc Golf, or spending time with his wife Kristina and their beloved dogs Rookie and Izzy.

Pearl Drum  Innovative Percussion EVANS DRUM HEADS 
E-mail: leachj@georgetownisd.org

Rick Scruggs is in his eighteenth year of being the director of the Georgetown High School Colorguard. He began teaching the group in the fall of 1998 until the spring of 2001. He returned to Georgetown in 2004 and has continued directing since. In his time at Georgetown HS, the colorguard has now spawned 2 successful winterguard programs, most recently in 2007 and 2012 (JV team) winning the silver medal at the Texas Colorguard Circuit State Championships, and in 2008 and 2010 winning the bronze medal.  In addition, in 2012 the Varsity Winterguard made it into the finals of two Winterguard International Regional Championships.

Mr. Scruggs graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in dance performance and education. He has studied different forms of dance including ballet, hip hop (studying in studios in London and the US), improvisation, and modern/contemporary (various clinics and workshops including ones led by Mia Michaels from the television show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’). In 2001, he joined the Circle Of Friends Dance Company and performed in a MLK Celebration alongside the Harlem Boys Choir. In 2005, Mr. Scruggs became one of the full-time dance teachers at Georgetown HS where he teaches both Dance I and II classes.

Mr. Scruggs began his colorguard career as a freshman in high school along with being a member of the percussion section. Proficient in flag, rifle, sabre and dance, he has been involved with the color guard activity for 20 years.

His past performing experience includes the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Nolan World Winterguard, Millennia Open Winterguard, Southwest Texas Bobcat Band, and the Circle of Friends Dance Company. In 1997, during his age-out year with the Cavaliers, he became the Drum Corps International I&E Flag Solo Champion at the DCI World Championships in Orlando, FL. He also won three State Solo and Ensemble titles in the Texas Colorguard Circuit.

His teaching credits include WGI Finalist Millennia Winterguard, The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps (where he served as Caption Head), Southwest Texas Bobcat Band, and many high school programs within Texas, including UIL state marching band finalists and WGI regional finalists.

E-mail: scruggsr@georgetownisd.org

Colorguard Website : www.georgetownisd.org/ghs/scruggsr/colorguard.htm

Brett Poteet serves as Director of Bands for Forbes Middle School. Prior to Forbes, he served as Associate Band Director and Director of Jazz Studies for Georgetown High School. Originally from East Texas, Mr. Poteet joined GISD in 2002 as Head Band director at Tippit Middle School. While in that position his concert ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at UIL Concert and Sight-Reading contests. In 2009, Mr. Poteet transferred to Mitchell Elementary in Georgetown and taught music for 6 years before joining the team at Georgetown High School in 2015, where he conducted the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and assisted with the Eagle Marching Band. He also served as TMEA Region 26 Jazz coordinator for 2 years. In 2019 he accepted the position of Head Band Director at Forbes Middle School.

Mr. Poteet received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Texas at Tyler in 1996 and a Master of Education from Texas State University in 2008. He has also been active clinician, adjudicator and saxophone private instructor. He enjoys playing his saxophone, piano and writing music.

Outside of music Mr. Poteet is an avid aviation enthusiast having earned his Private Pilot license in 1992. He also enjoys history and reading. Mr. Poteet is married and has two beautiful daughters.

Mr. Poteet teaches the Wind Ensemble, the beginning flute, double-reed, clarinet and saxophone classes, jazz band and assists with the Symphonic Band.

E-mail: poteetb@georgetownisd.org

Alex Sabzkooh is currently in his ninth year of teaching and serves as the Assistant Band Director at Forbes Middle School. Prior to Forbes, Mr. Sabzkooh served for six years as an Assistant Band Director at Burnet Middle School in Austin ISD. While at Burnet, Mr. Sabzkooh taught beginning brass classes and his ensembles earned frequent "Superior" ratings at the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. Mr. Sabzkooh started his teaching career teaching beginning band at Losoya Intermediate in Southside ISD in San Antonio, Texas. 

Mr. Sabzkooh is a graduate from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Music Studies and a minor in Trumpet Performance. Mr. Sabzkooh performed extensively with the UT Wind Ensemble, Undergraduate Brass Quintet and was a two time National Trumpet Competition Semi-Finalist. 

Mr. Sabzkooh teaches the Symphonic Band, the beginning trumpet, horn and low brass classes and assists with the Wind Ensemble. 

E-mail: sabzkooha@georgetownisd.org

Kristina Leach joined the Georgetown Independent School District in 2007, and is in her fourteenth year as a Band Director at Douglas M. Benold Middle School. Mrs. Leach received her Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX. During her time at TCU, she performed in the Horned Frog Marching Band, Basketball Band, and numerous concert ensembles. As a member of the National Honorary Band Service Sorority, Tau Beta Sigma, Mrs. Leach participated in several charitable and volunteer activities. Before teaching in Georgetown, Mrs. Leach student-taught in Lewisville, Texas at Marcus High School and Briarhill Middle School. Her ensemble responsibilities at Benold include directing the Honors Band, the Concert Band, sixth grade beginners, and assisting with the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. Her professional affiliations include: the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the National Honorary Band Service Sorority Tau Beta Sigma. 

E-mail: leachk@georgetownisd.org