Ms. Rodriguez is a native of Laredo, Texas. She was raised by her mother in Laredo, Texas during school season and by her grandparents in Monterrey, NL, Mexico in the summers. By growing up with her mother & grandparents, they instilled a value for hard-working ethics.

Ms. Rodriguez began her musical studies at Memorial M.S. Band under the direction of Ms. Yolanda E. Moreno where she played the flute and J.W. Nixon H.S. Band under the direction of Mr. Carlos Luna, where she played flute and piccolo. She received a Bachelor’s of Music degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in 1994. While in College, she was chosen to perform at The Midwest Clinic International conference in Chicago, Illinois, with the “Corpus Christi Wind Symphony” under the direction of Mr. Bryce Taylor, renowned band director. Ms. Rodriguez had the privilege to have wonderful professors such as Dr. Paul Hageman, Mr. Bryce Taylor, Dr. Jack Burt, Mr. Randy Fluman, Ms. Diana Tiffany-Sipes, Dr. Susan Berdahl, Dr. Greg Sanders & Dr. Nancy King Sanders. During college, she kept herself busy with her studies, a job, and taking private lessons with Dr. Mary Karen Clardy, world-wide renowned professor from North Texas State University. In 1994, upon graduation, she began working at Zapata ISD where she took her first H.S. Wind Ensemble to UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest earning her first 1st Division. In 1995, she returned to her home town and worked at her Alma Mater under the tutelage of Mr. Carlos Luna, her high school band director. As the woodwind instructor, she produced numerous All-Region, All-Area, and All-State Individual players. She also conducted the J.W. Nixon H.S. Wind Ensemble at UIL Solo & Ensemble Contest earning a 1st Division. In 1998, she ventured to middle school world, and this is where the learning really began. Working alongside her mentor, Ms. Yolanda E. Moreno, Ms. Rodriguez where their calling was to help build and re-build several middle schools in the city Laredo, Texas. Schools like Trautmann M.S., United South M.S. and M.B. Lamar M.S. where she conducted the 7th grade Jr. varsity bands for 17 years earning numerous “UIL Sweepstakes Awards” the highest honor a band can get, by challenging the students to play more difficult literature than expected. Upon her mentor’s retirement, she took over band program at M.B. Lamar M.S. in the 2015-16 school year. That same year, her Varsity Band and Jr. Varsity swept all 7 categories at the “American Classic Festival” in San Antonio, Texas, including “Best in Festival Award.” Her bands continue to reach a new level of achievement every year getting better and better every day in every way. The M.B. Lamar Honors Winds has been awarded best in festival at the San Antonio, Texas Blue Bonnet American Classic Festivals and Texas Music Festivals. In 2019, the Honors Winds participated in the TMEA Honor Band Process becoming State Alternate. In 2023, The M.B. Lamar M.S. Honors Winds was ranked 11th place at the State Level through the TMEA Honor Band process, becoming a State recognized program in class 3C. The Honors Winds has been awarded 10 consecutive UIL Concert & SR Evaluations Sweepstakes Awards since her return to Laredo ISD.

Having worked at Title I schools across the city of Laredo, she has been able to consistently produce success amongst her students despite the obstacles she encounters that other privileged programs across the state do not.

Her devotion for music education has help to lead students pursue careers varying from elementary teachers to middle school and high school teachers, band directors as well as collegiate levels in music education. Her former students are leaders of the community in law enforcement, artists, college professors, health/medical field to professional musicians and music educators.

Ms. Rodriguez is also well-known in her community. She volunteers in various organizations as part of the executive board. In the past she has served as Vice-President for the Region XIV for the Texas Music Educators Association State Board of Directors for 4 years from 2007-2011. In May of 2018 she was re-elected for the same position and Ms. Rodriguez is presently the TMEA Region XIV Vice-President. She contributes her service to various Texas marching contests, festivals, and concert & sight reading evaluations as contest official and tabulation officer including UIL Region XIV Marching Contest & Area G Marching Contest. She has proudly served as and Adjudicator for UIL Concert & Sight Reading Evaluation across Texas. She has served as a Clinician for the ATSSB H.S. Region 14 Band in Kingsville, Texas as well as ATSSB H.S. Region 29 in Burnet, Texas and has had several other invitations to come serve a clinician to All-Region bands across south Texas. Ms. Rodriguez served as President and Treasurer for “The Laredo Christian Women’s Alliance” a charity group from 2011-2024. Ms. Rodriguez is also on the board for her local church in Laredo, Texas where she has also served as Youth Director and Worship Team Leader. Ms. Rodriguez was a “Golden Apple” school nominee for the years 2017, 2020 & 2024. Ms Rodriguez was also the M.B. Lamar M.S. nominated candidate for LISD Teacher of the Year 2024. Ms. Rodriguez is a part of Texas Music Educators Association, Women Band Directors International, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association and in 2020 was inducted to membership in Phi Beta Mu, an International School Bandmaster Fraternity. Phi Beta Mu is an honorary, non-political, non-profit fraternity established in 1938. Miss Rodriguez was inducted at the annual new member’s breakfast on February 15, 2020, in San Antonio, Texas. She was sponsored by her band director, Mr. Carlos Luna, former LISD Fine Arts Director and Former J.W. Nixon H.S. Director of Bands. Co-sponsors were Mr. Bill Cason, Region XIV & Area G UIL Executive Secretary and Mr. Javier Vera, Former UISD Fine Arts Director. Ms. Rodriguez also serves as part of the Texas State UIL Prescribed Music List Committee since 2023 which is composed of 6 committee renowned members that serve in the State. Ms. Rodriguez and the committee members have dedicated hundreds of hours each year to approve new music literature in our UIL Prescribed Music list, this is the list that bands across Texas use to choose the music they will perform for UIL.

On top of her busy schedule, Ms. Rodriguez is the caregiver for her mother. Her brother Mark Rodriguez, and his beautiful family have been a blessing in assisting with whatever is necessary to help. Family is always the most important factor in any equation.

Although she is proud of the numerous accolades accrued over her 30 years, her biggest achievement is working with these “Wonderful & Amazing” students that have become her own. As these students continue growing to become the leaders, the movers and the shakers of this world, so does her love for her students.

Mr. Reyes is currently an Assistant Band Director at M.B. Lamar Middle School in the Laredo Independent School District. His teaching duties include directing the Symphonic Winds, directing the Roarin' Lion Jazz Band, assisting the Honors Winds & Concert Winds, and teaching Beginner Brass, Bassoon, & Percussion classes. Mr. Reyes' bands have consistently received 'Sweepstakes' awards for receiving straight Superior Ratings from all adjudicators at UIL Band Concert & Sight Reading Evaluations.

Originally from Fredericksburg, Texas, Mr. Reyes began playing the trombone in 6th grade and was a member of the band program all the way through his graduation from Fredericksburg High School. The band program was under the direction of John Rauschuber. While at Fredericksburg, Mr. Reyes marched at the UIL state marching band competitions in 2012 and 2014 in the AAAA classification and served in leadership positions. He performed in the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and was a member of All-Region bands, All-Area Bands, and was an alternate for the All-State band his senior year. Mr. Reyes was a recipient of the Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award for which he received for his outstanding musicianship and leadership within the band program.

After graduating from high school, Mr. Reyes went on to pursue a degree in Music Education at Texas State University. He studied trombone performance under the tutelage of Dr. Martin McCain, and studied instrumental music education methods with Dr. John Denis, Jordan Stern, and Dr. Kyle Glaser. Mr. Reyes also performed in the Texas State Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Caroline Beatty, and in the Texas State Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Keith Winking.

Before coming to M.B. Lamar Middle School, Mr. Reyes completed his student teaching placements at "Tex" Hill Middle School under the supervision of Kim Rosenberg & Richard Herrera, and at Cibolo Green Elementary School under the supervision of Lauren Powell & Emily McChesney. Both schools are part of the North East Independent School District located in San Antonio. 

His professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, Young Band Directors of Texas, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Mr. Reyes is very excited to be starting his fourth year of his teaching career and looks forward to continuing a tradition of excellence within the band program at M.B. Lamar Middle School.

Alberto Jesús Martínez, is a first-generation, Mexican-American, musician from San Benito, Texas. He has studied with Victor Chávez, Andrea Vos-Rochefort, Nancy KingSanders, Karen Bronson, Kellie Ligntiz-Hahn, Shih-Wen Fan, Alan Olson, and Dale Fedele. As a student, Alberto has had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with Mark Nuccio, Genesio Riboldi, Todd Cope, Gary Sperl, amongst many others.

In 2021, Alberto graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music with honors and in 2023 with a Master’s degree in Music Performance at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he was the Graduate Teaching Assistant. Alberto has performed professionally with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra (TN), Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra (TX), Symphony of the Mountains (TN), Johnson City Symphony Orchestra (TN), Marble City Opera (TN), and the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra (TX). Along with playing with orchestras he has also performed with the University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra, UTK Wind Ensemble, VolOpera, the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Wind Symphony and has performed as guest principal with Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony. His performances can be heard on National Public Radio’s WUOT 91.9 FM, Knoxville.

Along with performing he is a passionate educator and has had his students make the region honor band, Area and all-state ensembles in Texas and Tennessee in both middle school and high school. He has also had notable performances by his students during the University of Tennessee Clarinet Night, and Solo Night for his students from the High School and Middle School. Alberto has presented masterclasses at various institutions across Texas and Tennessee, most notably, the Knoxville Youth Orchestra Association, the Seymour High School band, Memorial Middle School, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville College of Music.

As a middle school director at M.B. Lamar Middle School, Alberto J. Martinez is the Mariachi instructor of the Lamar Middle School’s Mariachi “Los Leones” and of the beginner mariachi ensemble “Los Leonsillos.” Where he is in charge of teaching all mariachi instruments. He also co-teaches the Symphonic band and teaches clarinet, bass clarinet, and oboe at the middle school. He’s had great success as a Mariachi instructor as his ensemble has received 1ST division medals and has been invited to perform at several competitions across the city. He’s also had students make the Middle School Region 14 Mariachi Band on flute and violin, where his students took all the flute spots. As a band director, he’s had students make top chairs in the region bands and has had students place 1st as well. He is also currently the newly elected Mariachi Secretary for Region 14.

In his free time, you can catch him wearing his favorite soccer jerseys, visiting Monterrey (MX), hiking, as well as enjoying all things related to superheroes.

Alberto holds membership in Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Association of Mariachi Educators, Texas Bandmasters Associaton, International Clarinet Association and is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity where he is an alumnus of the Phi Mu Alpha Pi Chi Chapter from Texas A&M University-Kingsville.