Directors - CROSS TIMBERS MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND

CROSS TIMBERS MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND

Meet Your Band Directors!

Sharing our love for music with your kids is our absolute favorite thing to do!

Mr. Paul Nájera
Director of Bands

This is Mr. Najera's seventh year as Director of Bands at Cross Timbers Middle School. With 27 years of experience, his bands have consistently earned Sweepstakes Awards at U.I.L. Contest. His unique experience as a Head High School Band Director for 16 years enables his current students to benefit from his knowledge of the level of preparation needed to succeed as a high school band member.

In addition to his bands U.I.L. successes, Mr. Najera's bands have also competed and advanced to the Area Level of the U.I.L. State Marching Contest and the TMEA State Honor Band Competition. Additionally, his bands have traveled to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Orlando, Florida, The Bahamas, Nassau, New York City, and Cozumel, Mexico.

Professionally, he has served on the State Board for the Texas Music Educators Association, Vice-President of Region 21, and as President of the National Association of Military Marching Bands. Additionally, he was the monitor coordinator for the Region 24 MS Band auditions from 2014-2015.

Mr. Nájera continues to perform as a professional trumpet player. He is also an active clinician and an adjudicator throughout the state of Texas. Professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, American Federation of Teachers, National Association of Military Marching Bands, Phi Beta Mu (International Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Professional Music Fraternity).

Mr. Nájera holds a Bachelor's of Music Education degree from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. He is married and has two sons.

Ms. Tessa Gartin
Assistant Band Director

This is Ms. Gartin’s first year as the Assistant Band Director with the Cross Timbers Middle School Wolf Pack Band Program and is entering year four of teaching middle school band. Previous to joining CTMS, she directed the Pearland Junior High East Non-Varsity Symphonic Band, which earned sweepstakes at UIL the last two years, and taught the beginner woodwind classes at Alexander Middle School in Pearland, Texas.

Ms. Gartin holds a bachelor's of Music Education degree from Southern Methodist University and a Master's of Music Performance (clarinet) degree from The University of Maryland (College Park).

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Ms. Gartin has a twin sister named Sarah who is also a musician (percussion). I have a cat named Gershwin and a dog named Mendie. When I’m not at school teaching music, you can find me practicing yoga, exploring the greater DFW area and doing as many things as possible that includes my dog, Mendie!

Mr. Patrick Bowman
Percussion Director

Mr. Bowman is joining GCISD as the new Director of Percussion for Grapevine High School and its middle school feeders, Cross Timbers Middle School and Grapevine Middle School. Mr. Bowman will be the director of the CTMS Beginner Percussion class and will assist with the Honors and Symphonic Band percussionist throughout the school year.

He earned his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Texas Christian University and student taught at GHS and CTMS in the fall of 2017 before graduating in December 2017. He spent the spring of 2018 teaching middle school band as the Associate Band Director in the Venus Independent School District in Venus, Texas.

While Mr. Bowman calls Texas home, he grew up in southern California and has played music (piano and percussion) since he was five years old. He enjoys playing competitive sports, fantasy football and is currently working towards earning his pilots license.