Alejandro Mireles is in his tenth year as a music educator and currently leads the Mighty Oiler Band at Raul Perales Middle School. A native of Laredo, he is a proud product of the very community he now serves. He graduated from United South High School in 2011, where he was a musician in both the Outdoor Performance Ensemble and the Wind Ensemble. A talented clarinetist, he earned recognition throughout high school, achieving placements in District, Region, Area, and Region Orchestra Ensembles.

Mireles began his teaching career as an assistant band director at Antonio Gonzalez Middle School. While there, he conducted the AGMS Symphonic Winds, which earned their first U.I.L. Sweepstakes Award. In 2018, he helped open Raul Perales Middle School, where he serves as the head director. In their inaugural year, Mireles' newly formed Honor Winds competed for the first time, earning their first U.I.L. Sweepstakes Award while performing grade-level II and III literature.

Beyond his work with the band, Mireles also specializes in woodwind and percussion pedagogy, teaching beginner students on a wide range of instruments, from flutes to percussion. He is also the director of the Mariachi Oro Negro.

Mireles holds a Bachelor of Music Education (2015) and a Master of Science in Educational Administration (2021) from Texas A&M International University. His dedication and hard work were recognized in 2025 when he was awarded the UISD Secondary Teacher of the Year and was nominated for Region One South Texas Teacher of the Year.

For Mireles, education is more than just teaching music; it's about motivating and cultivating young musicians and adults to strive for success regardless of their obstacles. 

"If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together."