Darrell Boyer is the Director of Bands at De Soto High School. His teaching responsibilities include directing the Dragon Pride Marching Band, DHS Symphonic and Concert Bands, the DHS Jazz Ensemble and the DHS Jazz Lab, along with co-teaching the DJHS Symphonic Band. Since taking over at De Soto in 2016, Mr. Boyer has sought to implement new opportunities for students, such as the Fountain City Jazz Festival, Fountain City Composition Contest, Solo & Ensemble Night, the De Soto Middle School Band Festival, and other events.

Mr. Boyer began his teaching career with the Potosi R-3 School District in 2012 where he was hired as Assistant Band Director. His teaching responsibilities at Potosi included assisting with the High School marching band, directing the PHS Jazz and John Evans Middle School Jazz Bands, Guitar Class, Beginning Clarinet and Saxophone. During his time at Potosi, the student enrollment in Jazz doubled.

Mr. Boyer has run the Impact Drum Major Camp since 2012.  This camp helps to prepare student leaders to successfully lead their marching band. He has made it his mission to reinvigorate the student leader position and provide quality instruction for students in the area. Participants have taken home multiple awards for their conducting and showmanship over the past three years.

As a performer, he has performed with the Missouri Big Band (MOBB) and was a member of the Mineral Area Kicks Band. The Mineral Area Kicks is made up of music educators and enthusiasts from the area and performs regularly. This community group has been recognized for their playing and was selected to perform for the Missouri Music Educators Association's convention in January 2014.

Mr. Boyer earned a Bachelors in Music Education from Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri. While at Missouri State, he studied saxophone under Mr. Randall Hamm, participated in the 350+ member Missouri State PRIDE Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, and numerous Jazz bands. He has a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Technology from Southeast Missouri State University and recently completed his Specialist in Educational Leadership through William Woods University.

His professional affiliations include Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA), Missouri Bandmasters Association (MBA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Missouri Association for Jazz Education (MOAJE), Missouri Music Educators Association (MMEA).

Mr. Howard joined the band staff in 2016 as the Assistant Band Director.  He has a degree from Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville in Guitar Performance.  Prior to coming to DJHS he was the elementary music teacher at Vineland Elementary. 

Mrs. Boyer has been teaching at De Soto since 2015,  Mrs. Boyer oversees the Beginning Bands, DHS Color Guard, and has served as the Creative Director for the Dragon Pride since 2015.