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DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard

Posted by Dance/Guard Educator on 4/25/2026, 10:41 am

Color guard has evolved into a highly technical, choreography‑driven, year‑round discipline. The programs that are thriving — competitively and culturally — are the ones investing in educators who bring both dance training and program‑building experience to the table.

I am a certified Dance 6–12 educator with extensive experience directing and developing color guard and dance programs. I am currently seeking a DFW‑area program where I can take ownership of the guard and build a vertically aligned system from elementary through high school. My work focuses on long‑term growth, student retention, and elevating students to higher levels of performance, competition, and recruitment. I specialize in creating programs that grow year after year — not just in numbers, but in skill, culture, and competitive achievement.

A dance‑certified educator brings a unique advantage to a guard program:

Stronger technique foundations and safer training methods

Higher competitive ceilings and more consistent results

Increased recruitment and retention across grade levels

Curriculum alignment that supports the band’s vision

A sustainable program culture that lasts beyond a single season

Color guard directors today serve as choreographers, designers, educators, and program managers. As expectations continue to rise, programs benefit most when they are led by trained educators who understand both artistry and structure — and who can build systems that support long‑term success.

If your campus or district is looking for someone who can step in, stabilize, and elevate your guard program with intention, vision, and a strong technical foundation, I’d welcome a conversation.

Re: DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard

Posted by me on 5/8/2026, 4:45 pm, in reply to "DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard"

A couple of thoughts here. First, it would be lovely if school districts had the kind of money to support a FTE for guard programs, but that is not the world we live in.

Second, posting a clearly AI written post (the title and excessive use of em dashes are a dead giveaway) without your name or contact info speaks volumes about the attention you pay to things, and not in a good way.

Re: DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard

Posted by Big guy small school on 5/4/2026, 12:33 pm, in reply to "DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard"

Tust me, you're preaching to the choir. Band directors don't make the decisions to create new positions.

We finally convinced our campus to add a position. They put it at the lowest rung para. It's better than the boosters paying the guard director, but still not great.

I would love to have a full-time teacher for colorguard. My admin won't create a position unless I can demonstrate the need. That person would need to teach 7 classes daily (of 8 periods). Even if we tripled the size our guard it would only be a couple of class periods. I'm working on a combined position that would teach a few periods of guard and a few periods of intro to dance classes, but the dance teacher would want that person to assist with the dance team in the fall. Of course that happens at the same time as marching band. I tried a position that would also teach middle school colorguard, but that requires adding a position, adding a course that doesn't exist, finding space for them to teach it, coordinating master schedules across campuses, and now two principals who both want control over that person's schedule.

Realistically it would be more likely that I could hire a qualified band director with some dance background who could manage colorguard. Or even an academic teacher with some dance background who wants the extra stipend.

Re: DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard

Posted by Can of Worms on 5/4/2026, 8:26 am, in reply to "DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard"

While this is great and all, you are proposing a full-time position that band directors have no decision making power to create in a time where public education is under attack and constantly losing funding. Very few districts have the ability and funds to add a position like this under normal circumstances. But right now, even very wealthy districts are having to cut a lot of costs to meet the funding they are provided by the state.

Also, you profess a lot about your abilities, but we have no idea who you are, nor do you provide us any examples and evidence of your past other than being certified to teach dance. How do we reach out to you? Where have you taught before? Are you only looking for a guard job that's tied to a dance position? Are you willing to teach dance-only classes that aren't related to guard? And for such a high cost, will you be able to display short-term growth while also building for the long-term?

Re: DFW Band Programs: Itâ€™s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard

Posted by Me on 4/28/2026, 9:49 am, in reply to "DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard"

You're effectively asking for color guard to become a full time position in a political and economic situation in which many DFW school districts are strapped for cash due to falling enrollment.

Are you as a CG instructor prepared to do ALL THE OTHER STUFF that goes with being a full time teacher, dance certified or not? You say you want to go someplace and build a comprehensive program - where would you work? What else would you do besides color guard?

Are you prepared to teach JH or HS dance classes IN ADDITION to your color guard responsibilities - and if at high school level, add the drill team to that?

Districts aren't valuing dance or arts education right now. It's all STEM and core content. I can count on two hands the number of schools that have two full time dance teachers on staff. And that includes Booker T Washington, which doesn't have a marching band.

Re: DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard

Posted by Hmm on 4/27/2026, 3:55 pm, in reply to "DFW Band Programs: It’s Time to Value Dance-Certified Educators in Color Guard"

Do you have DCI experience?

Do you have instrumental experience?

Do you have vocal experience?

Only asking because these are things we ask when hiring a guard teacher.

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