SMS Band Director

Mr. James is a homegrown graduate of Sabine and the Sabine Cardinal Band. He has taught here since 2017.  Previously, Mr. James has taught at White Oak (2 years), Harleton (5years), and Arp  (1 year).  Mr. James is the Head Director at SMS where he coordinates the beginner program and conducts the SMS Symphonic Band. 

Mr. James is married to Stacy, with whom he shares 3 daughters and their dog, Oakley.

Assistant Director

Mr. Duecker started in 2022 as the assistant director for Sabine. He works with both the high school and middle school drumlines, assists the marching band and both middle school ensembles, as well as directs the SHS Symphonic Band. 

He also teaches beginner percussion, beginner saxophone, helps with the beginner low brass, and directs the sixth grade band at their spring concert.

Prior to Sabine he was a member of the Spirit of Northwestern marching band at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. 

SHS Twirling Sponsor

Mrs. Blair Maxwell was instrumental in bringing baton twirling back to Sabine ISD and has been the sponsor since it's return in 2019. She has served as the SHS Sponsor since 2019 as well as becoming the SMS Sponsor in 2022. Previously she has taught twirling at Kilgore, Pine Tree, and Gilmer ISD's. In that time she also does choreographer for other majorette lines in number of schools. In addition, she operated a private twirling studio in Kilgore for over 10 years where her students won numerous accolades and competitions and contineud on to twirl collegiately and beyond. 

She has been twirling since the age of 3 and was a majorette and drum major at Henderson ISD, a member of the KCT's of Kilgore College where she was a drum major. Currently she lives in the Sabine ISD community with her husband and 3 children and teaches 2nd grade here at Sabine Elementary. 

SMS Twirling Sponsor

Mrs. Jodie Hilburn has been twirling since 2nd grade. She was the very first Jr. High drum major and on the first Jr. High majorette line at Spring Hill Jr. High and continued twirling all four years of high school at Spring Hill, serving as drum major her senior year. Mrs. Hilburn also twirled competitively in USTA solo and team events throughout high school. After high school graduation, she founded Jodie’s Twirling Academy where she taught twirling lessons in Monroe, LA during her college years. Upon returning home to East Texas, she embraced the role of “band mom” to all her children and “twirl mom” to her daughter, Allie, while also offering private twirl lessons on occasion.

Mrs. Hilburn is currently employed at LeTourneau University where she teaches future educators in the School of Education. Her specialty areas are early childhood and special education. Prior to moving to the university level, she taught pre-k, kinder, and early childhood special education in Hallsville ISD, Longview ISD, and Crockett ISD from 1992-2003. She has been married to her husband for 30+ years, and they are blessed with one young adult daughter and two grown sons married to wonderful ladies that Mrs. Hilburn claims as “bonus” daughters. She also dearly loves her fur babies, Stella and Annie, miniature schnauzers, and Charlie and Hedwig, Holland-lop bunnies.