Dr. Norman E. Smith District V Band Director of the Year

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2023-2024  Dr. Norman E. Smith District V Band Director of the Year Award
 

Leslie Gunter currently serves as the Director of Bands at Oak Park Middle School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Mrs. Gunter is in her 15th year of teaching, serving the first five years in Texas public schools and the last ten years in Louisiana.  Prior to her current position, Mrs. Gunter served as the Assistant Band Director for Diboll ISD in Diboll, Texas and the Director of Bands for Corrigan-Camden ISD in Corrigan, Texas. Under her direction, students have performed in the Alamo Bowl, at Disney World, Texas State Solo and Ensemble, Texas State Twirling Competition, and numerous honor bands in the area. Her students consistently receive superior and excellent ratings at Solo and Ensemble Contest and Festival every year.  

Mrs. Gunter has also served as the chairman for the District V Middle School Concert Band, as well as guest clinician and conductor of the Beauregard Parish Honor Band.  Mrs. Gunter received a Bachelor of Music Education degree graduating Magna Cum Laude from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. She is married to her wonderful husband of 14 years Blake and has two amazing children, Steven and Ava. 

This Award is given in memory of Dr. Norman E. Smith by a resolution adopted by unanimous consent on December 1, 1998. Dr. Smith was Professor Emeritus of Music at McNeese. He was not only a teacher, but also a friend to all educators and musicians. A great deal of Dr. Smith’s teaching career was spent as a band director at various levels. It is indeed a great honor to be selected as the recipient of this award.

Our association selects one member each year for special recognition of his work. The following guidelines have been established for selecting this individual.

• Contribution to the Association through performance of duties as assigned through elections, mandatory appointment, and voluntary appointments
• Level of excellence obtained in competition with his/her musical organizations
• Level of excellence obtained in instruction proficiency as a professional educator
• Accumulation of achievements in the professional and competitive realms during his/her entire period of servitude in the district.

2022-2023 Aaron Theall

2021-2022 Mathew McMillen

2020-2021 Daphne Richardson

2019-2020 Betsy Stoupy 

2018-2019 Kyle Cook  

2017-2018 Amanda Riggs

2016-2017 Eva Brown

2015-2016 Reggie Rogers

2014-2015 Roland Smith

2013-2014 Huber “Mickey” Smith

2012-2013 David Landry

2011-2012 Tim McMillen

2010-2011 Kevin Coker 

2009-2010 Fred Roeder

2008-2009 Matthew Jones

2007-2008 Jay Ecker

2004-2005 Tim McMillen

2000-2001 James Hearne

1999-2000 Steve Hand