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Amy Lawhead
Amy Lawhead
Mrs. Amy Lawhead is one of the Band Directors at Strike Middle School. She is a clarinet player and woodwind specialist and has studied under Dr. Patricia Card, Dr. Mary Druhan and Dr. Scott Plugge.
Mrs. Lawhead earned her Bachelor of Music from Sam Houston State University, where she was a member of the Bearkat Marching Band, The Bearkat Basketball Band, the Symphonic Band, the Wind Ensemble and the SHSU Symphony Orchestra. She held several student leadership roles in the ensembles and managed the School of Music Recording Studio. Mrs. Lawhead also held several leadership positions in Tau Beta Sigma at SHSU. Since 2002, Mrs. Lawhead has worked with the SHSU Summer Music Camps. She began with the Music Camps as a counselor and eventually became the Camp Coordinator. Strike Band members are HIGHLY encouraged to attend band camps, even if it isn't the SHSU camp!
In 2012, Mrs. Lawhead completed her Masters of Library and Information Sciences at The University of North Texas and in addition to being a certified music educator, Mrs. Lawhead also holds a teaching certificate for School Librarianship.
While Mrs. Lawhead is from the Houston area (go Astros!) she loves living in the DFW area (go Stars!). She makes her home with her husband, Aaron, and their handsome boys, Benjamin and Conrad. When she is not teaching, Mrs. Lawhead enjoys cooking, reading, running and spending time at the bmx & mx race tracks with her family.
Mrs. Lawhead is a member of Texas Band Masters Association and the Texas Music Educators Association.
Mr. Najera came to teach at Strike MS in the fall of 2026, after having spent 23 years as a middle school band director in Garland, Grand Prairie, Fort Worth and Plano. He graduated Cum Laude from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2003. While at UTA, Mr. Najera performed and was a leader in several performing ensembles. Mr. Najera considers himself a local product, having also attended Lewisville High School.
Prior to coming to Little Elm, ensembles under Mr. Najera have consistently earned UIL Sweepstakes awards, as well as winning several Best in Class awards at different music festivals. Students from his bands have consistently made All-Region bands, as well as earning Superior ratings at Solo & Ensemble contests.
An avid trombonist, Mr. Najera continues to perform with the in the Dallas Millennial Choirs & Orchestras. He has previously performed with the SwingTime Jazz Band, New Life Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonic Orchestra or Irving, North Texas Oratorio Society and SlideShow trombone choir. He is currently a member of the Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmasters Association, and has previously held a membership in the International Trombone Association.
Although he considers himself a Texan, Mr. Najera was born in Costa Rica, and has also lived in Honduras and Mexico. He loves all cultures and is thankful that music is a universal language in any country! He and his family have lived in McKinney since 2004.
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