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 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).  As a member of KMEA District 8, she has served as the Technology Chair (2023-2025) and Middle School Band Chair (2021-2023). She is District 8's current Secretary and President-Elect (2025-2026).

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).