Director

Steffanie Skiles is the band director at Ashland Middle School and assistant band director at Paul G. Blazer High School. She received her Bachelors of Music Education in 2017, and is currently working on her Masters in Education, both from Morehead State University.

Ms. Skiles began her teaching career in 2017 as the band and choir director at McKell Middle School in South Shore, Kentucky before joining Ashland in 2023. Despite the busy teaching schedule, she is an active trumpet player and sound engineer in the tri-state area. She performs regularly with Sacred Winds Ministries, the Bluegrass Wind Ensemble, and Mountain Arts Center Wind Orchestra.

Ms. Skiles is a two-time Kentucky Department of Education/Valvoline Teacher Achievement Award winner (2021, 2022), and the Kentucky Music Educators Association [KMEA] District 8 Middle School Music Teacher of the Year (2019-2020, 2021-2022). Additionally, she was a middle school division recipient of Campbellsville University's "Excellence in Teaching Award" (Spring 2020).  She recently received the Morehead State University Music Education Alumni "Crescendo Award" (2026).

As a member of KMEA District 8, she is the incoming President (2026-2028). She previously served as the Middle School Band Chair (2021-2023), Technology Chair (2023-2025), and Secretary (2026). 

Her professional affiliations include the:  National Association for Music Education, Kentucky Music Educators Association, Women Band Directors International, Southeastern Theater Conference, and National Society of Collegiate Scholars (Alumna).