Richard Kearns serves as Percussion Director at Burleson Centennial High School, as well as a designer and clinician for many ensembles in both Indoor and Outdoor Arenas. The Burleson Centennial Percussion Program has established itself as one of the top World Class Ensembles in the county, with multiple Top 10 Finalist appearances at the WGI (Winterguard International) World Championships, as well as being named the 2017 WGI PSO World Champions.

Prior to his time at Centennial, Richard was the Percussion Director at Azle High School (Azle, TX), where the Percussion Section won numerous awards and Championships in the NTCA and TCGC Indoor Circuits, as well as multiple successful appearance at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. Richard was also the Percussion Director at Palestine High School from 2008-2011, as well as the Battery Coordinator at Tyler Jr. College. Upon joining the Palestine Band Staff, the PHS Percussion Program received numerous awards in the TCGC & NTCA Indoor Circuits, Lonestar & Plano Drumline Competitions. In 2011, the Palestine Indoor Drumline was the TCGC Open Class Champion. His Instructional contributions for TJC helped lead the group to their WGI PIO World Championship in 2008, promotion to WFI World Class, and becoming consecutive Finalists at the WGI World Championships. 

Richard's passion within the activity also goes well beyond just teaching percussion. His abilities as a conceptual and visual designer for Marching Band and Indoor Drumline have turned out many crowd-pleasing productions, including the 2016 WGI PIO Gold Medalists, Vigilantes Indoor Percussion (TX), 2017 PSO Gold Medalists, Burleson Centennial High School (TX), and the 2022 PSO Gold Medalists, Sherwood High School (OR).

​Richard serves on the WGI Advisory Board, as well as the NTCA (North Texas Colorguard Association) Executive Board. Richard was selected by WGI as one of the top designers from around the world to be part of WGI's 1on1 consultation program. Ensembles from across the country use this platform to receive online feedback and guidance on how to improve their percussion program throughout the year. Richard currently resides in Burleson, Texas with his wife Stacie and Daughters Sam & Lennon. When he is not teaching, you can usually find him on the golf course. He is a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion, Pearl/Adams, Remo Drumheads, and Zildjian Cymbals.