Mike Howard is currently the Fine Arts Director for Leander I.S.D. Prior to this, he taught for 18 years, 13 of which at Vandegrift High School. He was one of the founding directors when VHS opened in 2009 and became Head Band Director in the Fall of 2014. Mr. Howard conducted the Vandegrift Wind Ensemble, which was selected as the 2019 TMEA 6A State Honor Band and performed at the 2019 TMEA Convention. Recently the Wind Ensemble was presented the Sudler Flag of Honor by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Mr. Howard’s concert bands were consistent UIL Sweepstakes Award winners, TMEA Honor Band State Finalists and Mark of Excellence Wind Band Honors National Award Winners. As the Vandegrift Marching Band Director, Mr. Howard’s bands have been recognized with several high honors such as 2019 BOA Grand National Champion, BOA Regional Champion, BOA Super Regional Finalist, BOA Super Regional Class Champion, UIL State Marching Contest Finalist, 6A UIL State Marching Contest Bronze Medalist, 5A UIL State Marching Contest Silver Medalist and 4A UIL State Marching Contest Champion. The Viper Marching Band was also recently awarded the 2019 Sudler Shield Award by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. Aside from being the Director of Bands at VHS, Mr. Howard is an active Leadership Consultant and Workshop Presenter.

He has been a facilitator for SASI, the Leadership People for the last 16 years. In this time, Mr. Howard has had the opportunity to work with thousands of students and directors from around the United States. Before coming to Vandegrift, Mr. Howard taught at James E. Taylor High School and Morton Ranch High School in Katy, Texas.

Prior to becoming a band director, Mr. Howard was an instructor for the Cedar Park High School Band in Cedar Park, Texas and an instructor for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Howard has served the band directing profession as the TMEA Region 32 Band Division Chair and currently serves as the TMEA Area E Band Chair, and TMAA Concert Band Vice President. Professional affiliations include TMEA, TBA and membership in the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Howard is a native of Hondo, Texas and graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and received his Master's Degree in Educational Administration from Concordia University-Texas. He lives in Leander, Texas with his wife Amber, his daughter, Madison and his son, Justin.