08/07/2026
In case you missed Meet the Teacher at Rio Hondo Middle School and Rio Hondo High School P-Tech, we'd like to introduce you to our two new band staff members!
Ms. Laura DeRousselle is our new Head Band Director at Rio Hondo Middle School. She brings 11 years' experience leading the Lyford Middle School Band. Before becoming a band director, Ms. DeRousselle marched 3 years with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps and was a marching tech with Denton High School (3 years), J. J. Pearce High School (2 years), and Forte Drum and Bugle Corps (1 season). When she is not teaching, she enjoys reading, running, and taking her 2 dogs on long walks.
Our new High Brass Director is Mr. Conrad Fliegel. Mr. Fliegel is a native of the Rio Grande Valley, graduating from Los Fresnos High School in 2014. He attended Texas State University, where he played trumpet for several ensembles including the Bobcat Marching Band, the Texas State Wind Ensemble, lead trumpet for the Texas State Jazz Ensemble, and many more. He also spent 5 summers marching DCI with Genesis (where he is currently a trumpet tech) and Carolina Crown.
After graduating cm laude with his bachelor’s in Music Education in 2019, he was a band director at La Vernia ISD, east of San Antonio, TX. During his time there he conducted the Junior High Honor Band and the High School Jazz Band, taught beginning brass classes, and assisted with the marching band and high school concert ensembles.
Ms. DeRousselle and Mr. Fliegel have already been hard at work with our Mighty Bobcat Marching Band and we can't wait for our Middle School Band students to meet them next Tuesday!
