Ms. Katie Binkley is the Director of Bands at Richland Middle School, where she has worked since 2019. Prior to her arrival in Birdville ISD, she taught for three years as an Assistant Director at Fossil Hill Middle School in Keller ISD. During her tenure in Keller, she led the Sub Non-Varsity Band to their first sweepstakes award at the UIL Concert and Sight Reading contest in over nine years, as well as several first division ratings at contests and festivals in the DFW area. She assisted and team taught daily with the Varsity and Non Varsity Bands who earned consistent Sweepstakes awards, and several Best In Class trophies.

Ms. Binkley holds her Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. While at UTA, she was a member of the Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Flute Choir, Jazz Combo, and served as Drum Major of the UTA Maverick Marching Band. Betweem rehearsals, studying, and practice time, Ms. Binkley also volunteered her time to serving the band programs at UTA as a member of Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Sorority. In May of 2022, Ms. Binkley graduated from the Meadows School of the Arts, Masters of Music Education program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. 

Outside of her career in public education, Ms. Binkley is currently serving as an Army Bands Person in the 36th Infantry Division Band of the Texas Army National Guard. She serves as the Principal Flautist and performs often in the Concert Band, Ceremonial Band, Jazz Band and Woodwind Quintet, The Lone Star Five. 

Ms. Binkley would like to credit her success to her friends and mentors, Cindy Landsford, Darlene Janeski, Beau Henderson, Jeffrey Lightsey, Larry Schnitzer, and John Zastoupil. 

Mr. Aleck Olmedo joined the Richland Middle band staff in fall of 2023. His responsibilities include teaching Saxophone, Trumpet, Low Brass, the Symphonic Band, the Jazz Band, and assisting with the Wind Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at RMS, he student taught at Trinity High School with Chris Kanicki and Central Junior High with Christine Cumberledge in HEB ISD.
Mr. Olmedo earned his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Texas Christian University in Spring of 2023, graduating Summa Cum Laude. During his time at TCU, Mr. Olmedo performed with the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble 1, Basketball Band, and the Horned Frog Marching Band, where he served as Trumpet section leader. In February of 2021, Mr. Olmedo had the opportunity to perform with the Jazz Band for the 2021 TMEA Convention. He studied Saxophone under the tutelage of Mr. Joe Eckert.

​Mr. Olmedo's professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Jazz Education Network, and Kappa Kappa Psi. When he's not teaching, Mr. Olmedo enjoys eating delicious meals and spending time outside!

Akira Robles is currently the Percussion Director at Birdville High School in Birdville ISD. Dr. Robles earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign under the tutelage of William Moersch and Ricardo Flores.   

After university, Dr. Robles kept an active career as a freelance performer and educator. He started in the Chicagoland area, working with several schools in the city and surrounding suburbs. In 2016, he spent time touring and giving snare drum clinics in the Chicagoland, Miami, Florida, and DFW area, culminating in a showcase concert performance at TMEA with the Tarleton State University percussion ensemble as a featured snare soloist. Soon after, Dr. Robles moved to the DFW area, serving as Percussion Director of Ryan High School in Denton, TX until 2021. 

Dr. Robles has been heavily involved in the marching percussion activity since 2003. He has performed with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps (2003-2005) and the Phantom Regiment (2006-2007) as a bass drummer, as well as the 2008 WGI World Champion Rhythm X. As an educator, he has most recently worked with the Santa Clara Vanguard since 2011, under the direction of Paul Rennick, and has been a part of seven Fred Sanford award winning percussion ensembles. 

Akira is an educational artist with Pearl/Adams, Innovative Percussion, Remo, and Sabian.