Jason R. Smith is a 1992 graduate of North Lamar High School in Paris, Texas.  He attended college at Oklahoma City University, graduating in 1996 suma cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education.  In July 2010, Mr. Smith completed his Masters of Education Degree from East Central University.

While he taught in Oklahoma for 13 years, his middle school band was OMEA honor band, earned sweepstakes every year, was recognized as outstanding jazz educator, was the marching band coordinator which was finalist at state marching contest every year, earned sweepstakes awards every year and earned many regional marching awards.

At North Lamar, he designed and directed the North Lamar Marching Band who placed 2nd at UIL State Marching Contest in 2010, 5th in 2012, 2nd in 2014, State Champion in 2016, and 3rd in 2018, 4th in 2020 & 2021; along with several best in class awards at regional marching band contest.  The North Lamar Concert Band (non-Varsity) also earned UIL Sweepstakes every year under his direction 2010-2023, and was a state finalist in OPS in 2017 & 2018; and has earned recognition from the Mark of Excellence foundation in the non-varsity competition (competing in the 5A NV division) two times. 

He is an active judge with TMAA and OMAA, and is an active clinician across Texas and Oklahoma for all region bands as well as marching bands and concert bands.

Serving in state and region organizations is very important, and he has served as TMEA Symphonic Band Chairmen for Region 4 for 3 years, ATSSB All state band organizer for 3 years, Region 4 secretary/treasurer – 2016-2023, and 4A representative to ATSSB Board of directors 2017-2020.

Mr. Smith belongs to Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Band Masters Association, Association of Texas Small School Bands, National Music Educators Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Oklahoma Music Adjudicators Association, Texas State Teachers Association, National Educators Association, Texas Golf Association, & The United States Golf Association.

In his free time, he serves as a rules official for the Texas Golf Association, United States Golf Association, America Junior Golf Association, NCAA, rules committee for Texas Golf Association, and tournament committee at Paris Golf & Country Club and follows his wife across the country in her avid pursuit of competitive archery. He is also currently serving on the board of directors for the Texas Golf Association.

Recently he has had a book published, " A Guide to Being A Golf Rules Official."

Matt Kennan has taught sixteen years.  Six years here in Princeton.

Mr. Kennan graduated from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  Mr. Kennan has taught fifteen years in Arkansas and Texas public schools, five of those in his current position as assistant band director in Princeton ISD.

Prior to teaching in Princeton, Mr. Kennan taught in Magnolia, Arkansas at Magnolia Junior High and in Redwater, TX at Redwater Middle School.

Mr. Kennan teaches high school band and assists with Southard and Clark middle school bands.  He also teaches trombone, baritone, and tuba beginning band.

Mr. Kennan resides with his two cats, Elsa and Chappie.

Mr. Kennan's bio vid

Mike McGehee has been in the colorguard activity since 1995. He began his colorguard experience with Delta Brigade Drum and Bugle Corps and then at Henderson State University. He also marched with the Americanos Drum and Bugle Corps and Sundowners Winterguard from Madison, WI.

After aging out of drum corps and winterguard he began teaching several schools in Arkansas. Magnolia High School, Sheridan High School and Lake Hamilton High School to name a few. He also taught the Henderson State University Colorguard.

 In 2004 Mike started teaching colorguard/winterguard throughout the state of Texas. Princeton High School, Mineola High School, Farmersville High School, Whitesboro High School, Eastland High School and C.H. Yoe High School to name a few. He helped start the winterguard program at Princeton High School. While he has been involved with the program it has grown from one novice guard to now having four Winterguard groups and winning many medals at NTCA Championships.

Mr. McGehee will be teaching the Guard classes at Southard Middle School and Clark Middle Schools as well overseeing all guard activities at Princeton High School.

Mr. Gray is currently in his 15th year of teaching and 6th year as Percussion Director at Princeton ISD in 2021. Prior to moving to Princeton, Mr. Gray was the Percussion Director at Whitesboro ISD for 9 years.

Mr. Gray teaches beginner percussion percussion classes and concert bands' percussion at Southard Middle School and assists with the concert bands' percussion at Clark Middle School, teaches high school percussion and assists with marching and concert bands at Princeton High School and Lovelady High School.

Mr. Gray is a 2008 graduate of Texas A&M University-Commerce in Commerce, TX, where he received a master's degree in Music Performance. Mr. Gray worked as a graduate assistant while at TAMU-C, assisting with the Pride Marching Band Percussion Section, Concert Percussion Ensembles, and teaching several private lessons. He also performed with the TAMU-C Percussion Ensemble at the 2006 PASIC Showcase Concert featuring "New and Unknown Works of Minoru Miki" and later recorded a CD of the same name with the TAMU-C Percussion Ensemble.

Mr. Gray is a 2006 graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK, where he received a bachelor's degree in Music Performance. He performed with the marching band, concert band, jazz band, and percussion ensembles. Mr. Gray was an active member of he band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi, serving several different officer positions, including President for two years.

Mr. Gray resides in Princeton with his wife, Christina; cats, Lola, Eleanor, and Rosie; and bird, CC.

Ben Cordell is in his third year of classroom teaching in the state of Texas. Before working in Princeton ISD, he completed his student teaching at McKinney North High School, Cockrill Middle School and Scott Johnson Middle School in McKinney ISD. He also worked as a private lesson instructor in Allen and McKinney ISDs.

Mr. Cordell assists with the percussion section of the marching and concert bands at Princeton and Lovelady High Schools, as well as leading the beginning percussion and assisting with the concert bands at Clark Middle School.

Mr. Cordell graduated from Texas Tech University in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in music education and performance. While there, he performed as a member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, the University Orchestra, the Percussion Ensemble, and the Steel Band, “Apocalypso Now.” During his time at Texas Tech, he also spent two summers marching in the front ensemble of the World Class Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps.

Mr. Cordell recently completed a master’s degree in music performance from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY under the instruction of renowned marimbist, composer, and educator Gordon Stout. During his time in Ithaca, Mr. Cordell performed with the percussion ensemble and steel band at the college in addition to several ensembles in the community including the Running to Places theater company and the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes.