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Waltrip High Schoolhouse band managing director Jesse Espinosa, left, leads students during a Christmas-themed performance at the Heights Theater. Espinosa said he is leaving Waltrip, his alma mater, to take the band director chore at Klein Forest High School. (Contributed photo)

Jesse Espinosa has spent the better office of three decades with the Waltrip High School band program, first every bit a educatee, later as an banana manager and most recently as the head managing director.

His run with the Roaring Red Ram Band is coming to an terminate.

Espinosa said this week he is leaving Waltrip at the finish of the school year to become the caput band manager at Klein Wood High Schoolhouse. He cited an ongoing challenge to secure funding and other resources for his program at Waltrip as a reason for his difference.

"I'm saddened that information technology's come to this, but it's what's best for me and my family," Espinosa said. "I'll definitely miss the good times and all the students that accept come through here, and the special people I've had the opportunity to work with in the fine arts department."

Waltrip principal Michael Niggli, Houston ISD fine arts director Wenden Sanders and the HISD press office did not immediately reply questions about Espinosa's impending difference that were submitted Tuesday past electronic mail.

Klein Forest principal Lance Alexander described Espinosa equally a "perfect fit" for his schoolhouse and its ring plan, maxim he was attracted to Espinosa considering of his runway record with the Waltrip band and how he has used the fine arts as a vehicle for preparing students for machismo.

HISD trustee Elizabeth Santos, who serves Waltrip as office of her district, thanked Espinosa for his service to the Waltrip customs and said she was "utterly heartbroken, devastated and overall sad" about his upcoming motion.

"His work at Waltrip has transformed lives, helped build lifelong relationships, connected families and given students an incredible education in values, leadership, dedication and music," Santos added. "Mr. Espinosa embodies everything a instructor can and should exist. He has maximized every resource and exhausted every partnership to bring in what the Ram Ring needs."

Jesse Espinosa

Espinosa, 44, said he was one of the band'due south pulsate majors during his senior year at Waltrip in 1994-95. He rejoined the program in the early 2000s as an assistant to band director Charlie Stevens and succeeded Stevens as head director in 2012.

The Waltrip ring has qualified for the UIL area marching band competition every year since 1997, meaning information technology has advanced past the regional circular every year during that span. That is the longest such streak in HISD, according to Espinosa.

Since Espinosa took over the program, it has twice performed in Washington D.C. – first at former President Barack Obama's second inauguration in 2012 – as well as at Super Bowl and Final 4 events held in Houston. The Waltrip band has performed Christmastime concerts at the Heights Theater and earlier this year played at the Jazz Didactics Network'southward almanac conference in Dallas.

Espinosa said the Waltrip program has been successful because it focuses on developing leadership qualities in its band students. He said that started with Stevens, whose tenure as ring managing director began in 1983.

"I've always thought of myself every bit a steward of the program, and to go along carrying that torch that was lit by Mr. Charlie Stephens," Espinosa said.

Espinosa said he intends to create the same civilization at Klein Woods, where he will be accompanied past his music-playing children. Sophomore Jae Espinosa is a member of the Waltrip band, and Isabel Espinosa is an eighth-grader at Frank Blackness Middle School.

Espinosa said Klein Forest is a "identify where the arts are truly supported, not just by word but too by action with putting instruments in kids' easily, budgeting for it properly, master scheduling. All those things are there to give a instructor or a ring director an opportunity to really become the near out of their students."

HISD covers the price of travel to school and UIL-sanctioned events, according to Espinosa, who said his band at Waltrip has otherwise been forced to fundraise for needs such as musical instruments and repairs to those instruments. The program raised about $twenty,000 to make its trip to Dallas earlier this year for the Jazz Educational activity Network's conference, with U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee securing a donor to help boost the endeavour.

"Funding fine arts shouldn't exist left for parents, principals or donors," Santos said. "Information technology is the duty of a schoolhouse district to fund these programs."

Santos added that it's the responsibility of the land of Texas to provide adequate funding for districts such as HISD, proverb the state "needs to fully fund public instruction."

Espinosa called for boosted back up at the campus and district level.

"I hope and wish the commune and the campus will come up to terms to understand that they need to support their fine arts program," Espinosa said. "These are things that kids desire to be a part of and make them excited near learning math, English, science and social studies. Don't take for granted what they do for your school culture and how it brings the community into the equation."

Espinosa thanked Waltrip'due south band families and other community members for their support over the years. He said they will be more formally appreciated at a free bye concert planned for iii p.one thousand. Saturday, June iv at Waltrip.

Donations volition be accepted at the event to assistance support the Waltrip ring next year and beyond, Espinosa said.

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