About Us

Born and raised in Kansas, Graduating high school in the class of 2013! Mr. Isbell attended Butler County Community College and received his Associates degree in liberal arts. Mr. Isbell went on to attend Emporia State University were he graduated from the "Teacher's College" with his Bachelor of Music.

In 2019 Mr. Isbell and his wife (Tarah) moved to Minnesota, in 2020 they moved to Rochester where Mr. Isbell was teaching Choir and Music Exploration at Kellogg Middle School. He taught in RPS at Kellogg from the end of 2019 to 2023! Mr. Isbell began his time in the KM district for the 23-24 school year teaching Choir to grades 5th - 8th grade at KMMS. 

Mr. Isbell is an avid lover of all music and tries to be involved in all things music both at school and outside of school. When not at school Mr. Isbell loves to be with his family! He married his wife (Tarah) in 2017 and had their first addition in 2022, Daughter (Scarlett) and second daughter (Zeppelin) in 2024!  

If not at a concert or at home with my girls, I love to be outside! I love the sport of disc golf at every level! I am a "Sponsored" player, I run different leagues in Rochester during the spring and summer, I ran a disc golf club at my previous school and would love to bring that with me to KM! 

Educational background:

Mrs. Harwood graduated from Madison High School in Madison, South Dakota. She is a 2001 graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with an instrumental emphasis. Her major instrument is oboe, and she played with top performance ensembles (band, orchestra, woodwind quintet) and went on two European tours with those ensembles. She found a master's degree program that fit my educational philosophy, and in 2007 she completed a master's degree in Education: Curriculum and Instruction with an Interdisciplinary Focus through the University of Minnesota - Rochester Campus.  

Teaching experience:

Grades 5, 6 and 8 bands: September 2010-present at KMMS

Grade 7 band: 2001-09 at KMMS/HS, then 2010-present at KMMS.

Grade 9 band: 2009-10 at KMHS

Grade 10-12 bands: 2001-10 at KMHS.

Music Lessons Studio 1998-2010.

Professional development:

Mrs. Harwood has attended The Art of Wind Band Teaching Symposium at the University of Minnesota as a professional-track conductor.  Her professional memberships include Minnesota Music Educator's Association, the National Association for Music Educators, and Minnesota Band Director's Association, for which she is the oboe section judge for the grades 9-10 and 11-12 state honor bands.

Originally from Sioux Falls, SD, Mrs. Vinzant attended the University of South Dakota and earned her degree in Music Education. She moved to Rochester and started teaching at Kasson-Mantorville Middle and High School in 2016.

Mrs. Vinzant strives to be a life-long advocate of music education both in and outside of the school day. Professionally, she is a member of the Minnesota Band Director Association (MBDA), the Minnesota Music Educators Association (MMEA), and the Women Band Directors International (WBDI). She has served as the flute section coach for the MBDA 6-8 and 9-10 State Honor Bands and the SEMBDA First and Second Year Honor Band events. She has also judged the MBDA State Honor Band flute auditions for several years. 

Mrs. Vinzant advocates for music education in the community by serving on the Rochester Choral Arts Ensemble Board and overseeing the committee of “Education and Outreach,” which offers resources to local music educators. Mrs. Vinzant also works with Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras as the conductor of “Prelude Winds” - an auditioned ensemble for young musicians who play a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument. She also teaches private flute lessons for local student musicians. 

As a musician, Mrs. Vinzant is an active performer with flute and voice. She is a musician and guest conductor of the local Rochester Community Band, the principal flutist in the Rochester Pops Orchestra, and a soprano in The Choral Arts Ensemble. She believes that it is important to demonstrate to students that learning and growing on your instrument can happen even after you're done with a formal education. She believes music is something you can continue to participate in for the rest of your life. 

Mrs. Vinzant lives with her husband Nate, an Anesthesia Resident at Mayo Clinic, and her two large dogs, Atlas and Wrangler.