Joe Pruitt is a native of Quanah, Texas located near the Texas Panhandle. I began my teaching career in 1987 and am in my 35th year of teaching.  I am entering my 26^th year here in Fort Bend ISD, and my 18th year at Dulles High School. I received both my Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Arts degrees from West Texas State University/West Texas A&M University (respectively). While in Fort Bend ISD I served as assistant director at Dulles Middle School and later as the head director at Lake Olympia Middle School. The Dulles High School Band under Pruitt’s direction has advanced to Area in the state marching contest as well as advancing to state, twice in the state-wide “Honor Band” competition held bi-annually by the Texas Music Educators Association. I had the honor of conducting at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago with the Dulles Middle School Honor Band (1998) and Symphony Orchestra (2000) as well as the Dulles High School Symphony Orchestra (2004). In 2004, I traveled to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where I served as guest conductor for Mont’ Kiara Music Festival. I am a member of Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Fraternity, Texas Bandmasters’ Association, Texas Music Adjudicators’ Association, and the Texas Music Educators’ Association.