Staff

Jason Venable, Director of Bands

Jason Venable, a.k.a. "Mr. V", was born in Zachary, Louisiana in 1975. He graduated from Zachary high School, where he was under the direction of David Phillips. In 1998, Mr. Venable earned his Bachelor's of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, he studied conducting with Frank Wickes and Linda Moorhouse, Music Education with James Byo, and Bassoon with Bill Ludwig. He also performed in the Golden Band from Tigerland, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble II, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Winds.

Mr. Venable has served as the Assistant Band Director at Broadmoor Middle School from 1998 to 1999, Band Director at Prairieville Middle School from 1999 to 2000, and Band Director at Zachary High from 2000 to the present.

At Zachary, Mr. Venable is in charge of the Marching Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds, Drumline, and is the Flag Colorguard Sponsor. Since arriving, Jason has had the pleasure to lead many performing ensembles to Superior and Excellent ratings in various competitions across the state. Not only have the performing ensembles achieved at festivals, they have also been invited to many National Events including the 2004 Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. V has also been featured in SBO Magazine's 50 Directors That Make a Difference, and was recognized as Zachary High School's Teacher of the Year for the 2005-2006 School Year.

Jason's professional affiliations include: Music Educator's National Conference, Louisiana Music Educator's Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, Louisiana Bandmasters Association, and the District IV Band Director's Association.

Jason and Allison Venable live in Zachary, Louisiana and are the parents of three children: son Ian, daughter Claire, and son Ryan.

Mr. Venable's school schedule is as follows:

Special Duty Assignments
Special Duty Assignments
Percussion Class
Office Duty
Concert Band
Planning
Symphonic Winds

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Donny Alexander, Associate Band Director

donny.alexander@zacharyschools.org

Donnie Alexander was born in Zachary, Louisiana in 1979. He graduated from Zachary High School where he was under the direction of David Phillips and Carl Bellatti. In 2001, Mr. Alexander earned his bachelor's of music education degree from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, he studied conducting with Frank Wickes and Linda Moorhouse, Music Education with James Byo, and Tuba with Joe Skillen. He also performed in the Golden Band from Tigerland, the Bengal Brass Basketball Band, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Winds, and Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Alexander has served as the Band director at both Brusly High School and Brusly Middle School from 2001 to 2003 and 2005 to 2006, Band Director at Brusly Middle School from 2003 to 2005, Band Director at Glasgow Middle School from 2006 to 2007, and Associate Director of Bands at Zachary High from 2007 to the present. While at Brusly Middle, Mr. Alexander was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2006.

Donny's professional affiliations include: Music Educator's National Conference, Louisiana Music Educator's Association, the District IV Band director's association, Phi Mu Alpha sinfonia, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Donny and Melanie Alexander live in Zachary, Louisiana and are the parents of two beautiful daughters, Mariah Danielle and Leila Corynne.

Mr. Alexander's school schedule is as follows:

Jazz Ensemble
Guitar
Fine Arts Survey
Guitar
Guitar
Planning
Flags / Symphonic Winds

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Christine Granier, Flag Choreographer
danceteacher@danceart.net
www.freewebs.com/peggysdancestudio

This will be Christine's fourth year teaching at Z.H.S. She is a Dance Masters of America certified dance instructor as well a member or Dixie Dance Masters. Christine is a former competative baton twirler , holding state and regional title throughout the USTA, NBTA and AAU twirling organizations. She is a United States Twirling Association certified baton twirling coach.

Christine teaches all age levels and forms of dance as well as baton twirling. She has been instructing, advising and choreographing for dance teams, color guards and majorette lines through out the state for over 10 years. Christine is also director and choreographer for her competition dance troupe "The Elite Danstarz" and her competition twirling team "Pizzazz". Her teams and soloist's have competed through out Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabamba, Texas, Tennessee as well as out of state National Dance competitions and National Twirling competitions. She continues to offer private instruction in dance, twirling, color guard and modeling. She has former students on college lines as well as on staff with National dance team camp organizations.

Christine has been involved in dance, baton twirling and modeling for over 30 years and has been teaching for over 12 years. She is a graduate of Baker High School, for which she was dance team captain and feature twirler. She has acted with the Baker Little Theatre as well as performing in local musical theatre shows under the direction of Tom Jones. She continues to entertain crowds with dance and twirling performances throughout our region. Mrs. Christine and her husband, Chad, share his son Tanis and their son Dale.