Dakota Ard
Silsbee
Summary
Adaptable music professional skilled in performance planning and ensemble coordination. Successfully established a thriving jazz band and improved student engagement, ready to leverage expertise to create impactful learning environments.
Overview
5
5
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Band Director
Silsbee ISD
Silsbee, TX
07.2021 - Current
- Responsible for planning and coordinating rehearsals for middle school varsity and non-varsity ensembles.
- Promoted retention in our district, bringing our high school numbers from approximately 45 in 2021 to nearly 100 in 2025 with projections to exceed that in 2026.
- Fostered a culture of excellence, where students would come to hold themselves to a high standard out of love and appreciation of music.
- Supervised sectionals, providing targeted instruction to improve ensemble cohesion.
- Developed lesson plans for beginner classes across a wide range of instrumentation.
- Started and maintained a jazz band class, which would become a highly successful performing ensemble and a highly requested choice for community performances.
- Assisted with direction of marching band at the high school level, as an assistant to the head director.
- Served many times as host for UIL Concert and Sightreading competitions and TMEA/ATSSB region clinics and concerts.
- Experience as an organizer for ATSSB clinics and concerts.
Education
Bachelor of Music (BM) - Music Education
Lamar University
Beaumont, TX12-2020
Skills
- Audition preparation
- Jazz ensemble background
- Woodwind instruction
- Performance planning
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Instrumental expertise
- Professionalism
Timeline
Assistant Band Director
Silsbee ISD
07.2021 - Current
Bachelor of Music (BM) - Music Education
Lamar University