Dr. Jeremy Earnhart is Director of Fine Arts for the Arlington, TX Independent School District. Educating over 64,000 students, AISD provides world-class musical, visual, and kinesthetic arts programs. From 2009-2013 he was Director of Fine Arts for the Irving ISD and director of the state and national champion L.D. Bell High School Band serving from 1998-2009. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a BM & MME, has certifications in International Baccalaureate Music, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Dallas Baptist University. At UNT he studied trumpet with Dr. Leonard Candelaria and performed in top concert ensembles under Dennis Fisher and Eugene Corporon as well as the 2 o’clock Lab Band under James Riggs.

As an author, he has articles published through Praxis: The electronic journal of the Sam Houston State University Center for Music Education, Music for All, and Touchpoint: The Conn-Selmer Division of Education Newsletter. He is an active clinician, adjudicator––including Bands of America––and presenter for staff developments/conferences such as Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music Administrators Conference, Conn-Selmer Institute, and The Midwest Clinic. Dr. Earnhart also serves as a consultant for groups including the 2011 National Champion Broken Arrow High School Band and as Music Coordinator for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps.

This article is reflective of the data-driven, systems approach to advocacy which helped the L.D. Bell Band grow in participation by 50%, enrollment in Irving ISD secondary Fine Arts to increase by over 30%, and assist in the 70% passage of the Arlington ISD $663.1 million bond package––the largest in Tarrant County history––including significant Fine Arts components.