Directors

Samuel C. Pugh was born in George West, Texas, and graduated from George West High School in 1994.  He attended Blinn College for two years under the direction of Larry Campbell, and transferred to Sam Houston State University where he studied with Randy Adams, trumpet instructor, and W. Matthew McInturf, Director of Bands.  He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Sam Houston State University in May of 2000.  After teaching at Quail Valley Middle School and Macario Garcia Middle School in the Fort Bend Independent School District, Mr. Pugh went to Fort Settlement Middle School as the assistant band director, where he taught for six years.  Mr. Pugh is currently in his 19th year as Director of Bands at Watkins Middle School in the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District.

In his 26 years of teaching, bands under his direction have frequently received superior ratings at U.I.L. Concert and Sight Reading Contest, as well as other contests and festivals, including the Best in Class award at the 2004 Festival at the Falls, held at Cypress-Falls High School.  He is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educator’s Association, and the Texas Music Adjudicator's Association.

Mr. Pugh has an extremely supportive family, including his wife, Tammy, who is an 1st grade teacher at Oyster Creek Elementary in the Fort Bend Independent School District.  They have four children, Ashlyn, Maurio, Gracie, and James.

To contact Mr. Pugh, please e-mail: samuel.pugh@cfisd.net

Gracie Hartsfield was born in Katy, TX, and graduated from Morton Ranch High School in 2016. After attending Lone Star College - Cypress, she transferred to Sam Houston State University where she was under the direction of Brian Gibbs, Darla McBryde, and Matthew McInturf, while studying under Brian Schellberg and Patricia Card.

She received her Bachelor of Music w/ All-Level Instrumental Certification from SHSU in December of 2022. Mrs. Hartsfield’s career started at Spring Oaks Middle School in Spring Branch ISD, where she assisted the Symphonic Band, who received a Superior rating at the UIL Region 27 Concert & Sight Reading Evaluation. After leaving Spring Oaks, she found her new home at Watkins Middle School where she teaches all of the beginner woodwind classes, as well as the Symphonic Band, who have received Excellent and Superior ratings at the UIL Region 27 Concert & Sight Reading Evaluation. Mrs. Hartsfield is a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, Women Band Directors International, Tau Beta Sigma, and the International Clarinet Association.

Mrs. Hartsfield and her husband, Chris, reside in the NW Cypress area along with their four doggos, Bear, Vader, Leia and Obi. They love the Astros, playing disc golf, are major foodies, and love dancing the night away at the local honkey tonks! Mrs. Hartsfield is surrounded by the best support system and is very blessed to have the most amazing family and friends in the whole world.

To contact Mrs. Hartsfield, please e-mail: graciela.hartsfieldlopez@cfisd.net