Eastern Hills Band Staff
Eastern Hills High School
Kathy Bernal ~ Director of Bands
Kathy Bernal has been a band director for twenty-eight years, twenty-six of those in Fort Worth ISD. Ms. Bernal graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a bachelor's degree in music education and East Texas State University with a master's degree in music education. As an educator, she has been selected as a Who's Who Among American Teachers, as a Teacher of the Week, as Teacher of the Year, and received the Bayard H. Friedman for Teacher Excellence in Performing Arts for 2004-2005.
Before coming to Eastern Hills High School, Ms. Bernal was assistant band director for Rosebud-Loft ISD where she taught K-12 and was the head band director at Meadowbrook Middle School for eight years. Under her direction, the Highlander Band has won many prestigious awards. Her current duties include directing the Marching Band, Symphonic Band and Jazz Band, and teaching Music History. She is a member of the Texas Music Educator's Association, Texas Bandmaster's Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity.
Ms. Bernal likes bicycling and loves spending time with her 85-year-old mother and her chihuahua, Bonnie.
Meadowbrook Middle School
Daniel Najara ~ Director of Bands
This is Mr. Najera's third year at Meadowbrook MS after having spent six years teaching in Plano and graduating from University of Texas at Arlington in 2003. He is a member of Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Educators Association and International Trombone Association. During the summer of 2010, he attended the International Trombone Festival in Austin and performed with his trombone ensemble, SlideShow. Mr. Najera is married and has two sons.
Meadowbrook Middle School Band Site
Handley Middle School
Tommy Neher ~ Director of Bands
Before coming to Handley Middle School, Mr. Neher was the Head Band Director at JP Elder Middle School, Assistant Band Director at Eastern Hills High School, and Assistant Band Director at Rosemont Middle School. Mr. Neher received his bachelor from Texas Tech University and stays very busy keeping up with his wife Jennifer, who is an art teacher in Arlington, and his two beautiful and talented daughters, Annabelle and Gracie.
Handley Middle School Band Site ~ link coming soon
Jean McClung Middle School
Cara Goings ~ Director of Bands
Mrs. Goings has been a band director for five years, a private teacher for twenty years and has worked at many churches as an instrumental specialist, music assistant and piano accompanist. She has taught at FBC in Castle Hills, Griffin Middle School in Lewisville and recently was the Assistant Band Director at Leonard 6th Grade Center in Fort Worth. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas and is currently playing trumpet in the South Cliff Baptist Church Orchestra. Mrs. Goings is married to Todd Goings and has four children, Cayla, Laurel, Taylor and Jayden.