Brandon Douglas has been the band director at Lake Stevens Middle School for the past 6 years. Teaching at Lake Stevens has been a full circle moment for Mr. Douglas as this is where he first learned to play the trumpet as a member of the instrumental band, receiving Band Director’s award, the highest award that any music student at Lake Stevens could hope for . After graduating from Lake Stevens, Mr. Douglas matriculated to Miami Northwes5ern Senior High School, participating in their PAVAC program and eventually becoming the drum major. Upon his graduation, he was accepted into Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, where he majored in Education and was a member of the world-renowned Marching 100s. Mr. Douglas did hid internship at Miami Central Senior High School while also substituting at various schools, in Leon, Dade, and Broward Counties. Eventually, he found hid first teaching position as an elementary school teacher at Larkdale Elementary in Broward County. While there, he had the opportunity to mentor many students and touch many lives. In 2008, Mr. Douglas’ dream of teaching at his Alma Mater came t\rue when he was hired as a teacher here at Lake Stevens. During his time here, he was able to resurrect a dormant music program, growing it in size from zero to approximately 70 students. Where there was once a nonexistent program, there is now a full marching band, full jazz band, and symphonic band. Thanks to the hard work and persistence of Mr. Douglas, the band has become a jewel in the crown of the Miami Gardens community. They have been asked to perform at various activities in the community, and are frequent visiting musicians at high school football games and University of Miami basketball home games. Mr. Douglas’ passion for music shows in his students. He spends countless hours at Lake Stevens with students and is honored to have his hard work recognized by his peers this year after being nominated as the 2015 Teacher of the Year.
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