Staff

MR. CHRIS BROWN

Mr. Brown is in his 30th year as the Band Director at Kimbrough Middle School in Mesquite ISD. At Kimbrough his bands have consistently received Sweepstakes at UIL Concert & Sightreading Contest and First Divisions at other music festivals. In 2016, the Kimbrough Middle School Band was named the Texas Bandmaster's Association Exemplary Middle School Band program. Kimbrough is the only feeder school for Poteet HS, the 2008 TMEA Class 4A Honor Band and three-time UIL Class 4A State Marching Champion.  Before coming to Kimbrough, Mr. Brown taught for three years in the Bonham ISD where he was the Band Director at L.H. Rather Middle School. While at L.H. Rather, his band earned the first UIL Sweepstakes in the school’s history.

Originally from Grand Prairie, he graduated from South Grand Prairie High School in 1986. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree, and of East Texas State University where he received a Master of Music Degree.  He holds memberships in the Texas Music Educator’s Association, where he served 4 terms as the Region 3 Middle School Band Chair, the Texas Bandmaster’s Association, where he presently serves as the Region 3 Representative, the Texas Music Adjudicator’s Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu, honorary bandmaster fraternity. Mr. Brown has presented clinics at the TMEA  and TBA conventions and is active as a clinician and adjudicator 

Mr. Brown resides in Sunnyvale with his wife Kathy, an attorney, and their dog Barnabas. They are active in the ministries of the First Baptist Church of Dallas.

MS. DANIELLE ROBERTS

Ms. Roberts lives in Crandall with her two children, Gavin and Gabby. She is a flute/piccolo player who graduated from Ennis High School in 2002. Ms. Roberts has a Bachelor’s degree in Music and Education as well as a Master’s degree in Education. She is an alumnus of Baylor University, Abilene Christian University, and Texas A&M at Commerce. Ms. Roberts is beginning her 16th year of teaching and has taught kindergarten, PreK-8 music, all levels of band, and color guard. 

Ms. Roberts began her career teaching in the South Pacific on the island of American Samoa. While in American Samoa, she had an opportunity to begin the very first school band in the history of the island. While teaching in Cameron ISD, Ms. Roberts helped the band to achieve accomplishments including Bronze medalists at State Marching Contest and being named the AA Honor Band. She also led the Non-Varsity band at Cameron Junior High to earn their first sweepstakes in the history of the school. Ms. Roberts has also worked in Kaufman ISD.

While in high school, Ms. Roberts achieved many recognitions on flute, including numerous Superior ratings at State Solo & Ensemble, 1st chair in the All-Region band and drum major of the Ennis High School band. She was also selected to play flute in the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble. While in college, Ms. Roberts performed at TMEA with the ACU Wind Ensemble and performed as a young adult with the Metropolitan Winds, including a performance at the Louisiana Music Educators Association Convention in 2013.

MS. TORI STONE

Ms. Stone joined the Kimbrough Band Staff in 2024. She graduated cum laude from Baylor University in 2023, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While at Baylor, Ms. Stone studied oboe with Professor Dr. Euridice Alvarez-Izcoa. She performed with the Baylor Choirs in their appearances at the 2020 TMEA Convention and with the Baylor Wind Ensemble at the 2022 CBDNA Southwestern Division Conference and The 76th Midwest Clinic. She is also featured on the Baylor Wind Ensemble album “Divine Mischief” with clarinetist Julian Bliss, which released February of 2024. Ms. Stone was a member of the Golden Wave Band and Courtside Players, serving as an undergraduate staff member, office manager, and social media manager.

Prior to Kimbrough, Ms. Stone completed her student teaching in Lewisville ISD at Lewisville HS and Hedrick MS under the mentorship of Chris Meredith, Alicia DeSoto, and Nathan Cooley.

Ms. Stone is a native of Mont Belvieu, Texas, having graduated from Barbers Hill High School. Her professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Mu Phi Epsilon, and the International Double Reed Society. In her free time, Ms. Stone enjoys reading, spending quality time with friends, and serving on the media team for a non-profit, Through The Staff, providing free private lessons for students in grades 2-12, making music education accessible for all.

MS. TISH GOMEZ

Director of Bands - Poteet High School

Ms. Gomez joined the band staff at Poteet High School in 2011. She spent 8 years as an assistant director and served as the director of the Poteet Symphonic Band, Poteet Jazz Band, assisted with the marching band and taught beginner trumpet and horn classes at Kimbrough Middle School. Under her direction, the Poteet Symphonic Band continued its long tradition of earning straight 1st division UIL ratings each year and was named a Commended Winner of the The Foundation for Music Education Citation of Excellence contest in 2018 and a Citation Winner in 2017 and 2019.

In 2020 Ms. Gomez took over as the Director of Bands for the Pirate Band, becoming only the 3rd person in this position since the school's opening in 1986. Continuing the tradition of excellence, under her direction and with the help and support of the fantastic band staff, the Pirate Band has earned Sweepstakes awards each year and advanced to the UIL State Marching Championships. The Poteet Honors Band has also continued its success earning Straight 1st Division ratings and UIL Concert and Sightreading and advancing to the Area round of the TMEA Honor Band process. Ms. Gomez also serves as the Fine Arts Chair for Poteet High School.

Prior to beginning her career at Poteet Ms. Gomez served three years as the associate band director at Midlothian High School in Midlothian, Texas. While at Midlothian she conducted the Non-Varsity Band, Jazz Band and assisted with the Midlothian Panther Regiment. Ms. Gomez was a guest conductor with the Midlothian High School Wind Ensemble in 2008 at the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington and in 2009 at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. During her three years at Midlothian High School Ms. Gomez’s Non-Varsity Band earned UIL 1st division ratings each year. 

Ms. Gomez earned her undergraduate degree in 2008 from Stephen F. Austin State University where she studied with Fred J. Allen and Dr. Gary Wurtz. She earned her master’s degree in Music Education from Southern Methodist University in 2018 where she studied with Lynne Jackson, Brian Merrill, Frank Troyka and Sarah Allen.

In 2003 Ms. Gomez graduated from Poteet High School. As a student in the Pirate Band she sat in Scott Coulson’s Honor Band and made the TMEA 4A All-State Band. Ms. Gomez was the first of four siblings to attend Poteet High School and go through the Pirate Band. She was also very active in club and varsity soccer.

Ms. Gomez is an active member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmaster’s Association and is a member of the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. She frequently judges and serves as a clinician for All-Region Bands and concert bands in the area and has been a conductor at the SFA Band Camp.

MR. STEVE KATH

Assistant Band Director, Percussion - Poteet High School

Steve Kath is a graduate of Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelor in Music Education degree and a Master in Music Performance degree with an emphasis in music theory. As a graduate student at Tech, he held the position of Graduate Teaching Assistant, studying under Alan Shinn and Dr. Lisa Rogers.

Mr. Kath began his teaching career in 1997 at Samuel Clemens High School in Schertz, Texas. While there, his concert bands earned superior ratings at festivals and UIL events. His drumlines also received many awards at local contests as well as the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Marching Percussion Festival. In 2001, Mr. Kath then served as Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor at Dr. John D. Horn High School in the Mesquite ISD. With his assistance, the performing groups at Horn achieved many contest and festival honors including the UIL Sweepstakes Award in its first year.

Since joining the staff at Poteet in 2005, Mr. Kath has served as Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor. Under his guidance the percussion section has helped the Pirate Band earn many distinctions at local and state marching and concert contests. The Poteet drumline has received numerous awards at area fall drumline contests as well as winter indoor drumline contests. And the Poteet Percussion Ensemble has won the Call for Tapes for the Percussive Art Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition.

Mr. Kath is currently the Music Director at his church in Rockwall where he also conducts an adult choir and a handbell choir.  He loves to spend time with his wife Bonnye, an elementary school assistant principal in Mesquite.  They have three wonderful children: David, Jonathan and Madeline, and Zetta Rey, a rambunctious Lab rescue. 

MS. KAYLEE SMITH

Assistant Band Director - Poteet High School

Ms. Smith is a 2024 graduate of Texas Tech University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Flute Performance with a minor in General Business. While at Texas Tech, Ms. Smith served as the principal flutist of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and performed with the University Symphony Orchestra. During her time in the flute studio, she performed with the flute choir at the 2023 National Flute Association Convention and studied abroad in Italy with the chamber music program, Music in the Marche. In addition, she served as Drum Major of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland and had the privilege of marching in the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Prior to joining the staff at Poteet High School, Ms. Smith student taught at McKinney North High School and Cockrill Middle School and worked with the band program at McKinney High School. Ms. Smith is a graduate of Allen High School where she was a two-year TMEA 6A All-State flute player and a National Merit Scholar.

Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educator’s Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, National Flute Association, and Tau Beta Sigma.

MR. CHRISTIAN SALYER

Assistant Band Director - Poteet High School

Mr. Salyer directs the Symphonic Band and is the Director of Color Guard at Poteet High School. Other responsibilities of his include teaching the Kimbrough beginner clarinet class, keeping inventory, assigning lockers, facilitating graphic design and content creation for all Pirate Band social media, as well as coordinating choreography, drill, and show design during the marching season. Prior to the 2025-26 school year, Mr. Salyer conducted the Concert Band at PHS, consistently receiving both Excellent and Superior ratings at UIL during that time.

Before joining the Pirate Band staff in the Fall of 2021, Mr. Salyer was a Music Teacher at Highland Meadows Elementary School in Dallas. He also student-taught with the Pirate Band in the Fall of 2019. He received his Bachelors of Arts in Instrumental Music Education from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia - studying under Dr. Stephen Kerr and Dr. Cassandra Hibbard. Mr. Salyer is originally from Dayton, Ohio.

Mr. Salyer currently resides in Rowlett with his wife, 2014 PHS graduate and former Pirate Band Drum Major, Amanda; his son, Ronen; their three cats, Nola, KC, and Virginia; and their dog, Scarlet.

MR. DAVID KATH

Assistant Band Director - Percussion

David Kath is a graduate of Texas Tech University where he earned his Bachelors degree in Music Education. At Texas Tech, he studied under Dr. Lisa Rogers and Dr. Michael Mixtacki. During his time at Texas Tech, Mr. Kath got to perform in Laie, Hawaii, Valencia, Spain, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

Prior to joining the staff at Poteet, Mr. Kath taught one year at Quitman HS in East Texas. In his year at Quitman, he assisted the high school bands, junior high bands, and took the percussion ensemble to the UIL State Solo and Ensemble Contest. 

Mr. Kath is a 2017 graduate of Poteet High School and the Pirate Band. He comes from a long line of Poteet graduates, starting with both his parents who graduated from PHS. Currently, Mr. Kath loves to spend time with his fiancée Barbara, and their 2 boys, Blake and Bradley.