Associate Director
of Bands

Cara vernon

cvernon@wcpss.net
919-870-4250 ext. 24568

Cara Vernon is the Associate Director of Bands at Leesville Road High School, where she serves as the primary conductor of the Intermediate band and the co-director of the Concert and Symphonic Bands. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from East Carolina University and a master’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mrs. Vernon began her career in the Leander Independent School District in Cedar Park, Texas, where she established her fundamental teaching style. She continued her career in the public and private schools in Fairfax County, Virginia before settling in Raleigh as the director of bands at Leesville Middle School from 2014-2022. Mrs. Vernon believes that her diverse teaching background has given her a unique perspective on various programmatic and pedagogical styles.

Bands under her direction have received numerous awards and have been invited to perform at prestigious events including the Midwest Clinic, the Western International Band Clinic, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, and the North Carolina Music Educators Association Convention. She was also awarded Teacher of the Year at Leesville Road Middle School and was featured on WRAL as Teacher of the Week.

Mrs. Vernon’s dedication to arts education extends beyond the classroom. She has served on the boards of the Central and East Central Band Districts and chaired the WCPSS All-County Band Clinic. Most recently, she has led recruitment initiatives for The Carolina Ambassadors of Music and served as a University Supervisor for ECU student teachers in Wake, Johnston and Pitt County.

Mrs. Vernon sets high expectations for her students and believes in teaching the whole student, not just the musician. She attributes her success to the continuous support from her husband Jamie, her daughters Mia and Addison, and her puppies, Presley and Teddy.

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