Directors

About Our Directors

ANA HINOJOSA-SANTI
Director OF BANDS

Ana Hinojosa-Santi is the current Director of Bands at Liberty High School.  Previously, she served as the Associate Director at MacArthur High School (2018-2020) and Director of Bands at MacArthur High School (2020-2024).  Mrs. Hinojosa has an extensive background in high school band and colorguard teaching in districts around the Rio Grande Valley and the DFW Area.  Originally from McAllen Texas, Mrs. Hinojosa received her Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M University-Kingsville where she studied flute with Dr. Diana Sipes. 

Previously, she served as Assistant Band director at Harlingen High School (1999-2003), La Joya High School (2005-2012), Edinburg High School (2012-2013), and Sherman High School (2013-2018).  During that time, her bands have participated in the UIL State Marching Contest and have been a Finalists in the Bands Of America Super Regional in San Antonio and Midland. Mrs. Hinojosa has taught Master Flute Classes at Texas State University and across the RGV/DFW area. She has had multiple All State flute students in her 23-year career.   

Mrs. Hinojosa lives in Frisco with her husband Alan and her two stepsons Anthony and Andrew

CECILY YOAKAM
ASSOCIATE Director of Bands

Ms. Cecily Yoakam serves as the Assistant Director of Bands of Liberty High School. Her duties include directing the Symphonic Band as well as assisting all other ensembles.

Ms. Yoakam graduated from the University of North Texas where she studied Oboe with James Ryon and completed her student teaching practicum with Kathy Johnson at Argyle HS.

After graduating from UNT, Ms. Yoakam taught for two years in Buda, Texas. For the past two years, she has been the Educational and Advocacy Resources Coordinator for Music for All, Inc. in Indianapolis.

She was the Drum Major for the Union HS Band in Tulsa, OK; Drum Major for the University of North Texas Green Brigade; and Drum Major for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. Ms. Yoakam served on the field staff for the Liberty High School Band in 2015 and 2016 and is extremely excited to join the family full-time.

ALEX RODZEWICH
Director of Percussion Studies

Alex Rodzewich is a first-year Assistant Percussion Director for Liberty High School and Vandeventer Middle School. Mr. Rodzewich received a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Christian University where he studied under Dr. Brian A. West, Jeff Hodge, and Joey Carter.

In his years at TCU, Mr. Rodzewich performed with the Percussion Orchestra at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2019 and 2022, the Wind Symphony at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2020, and was the principal percussionist of the Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Rodzewich also served as the percussion section leader of the Horned Frog Marching Band in the 2020-2022 seasons. In the marching arts, he has vast experience in both battery and front ensemble, earned from his time teaching at various schools across the metroplex.

Outside of school, Mr. Rodzewich enjoys hiking, playing video games, and spending time with his friends and family.

IVAN MENDOZA
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PERCUSSION STUDIES

Ivan Mendoza currently resides in Fort Worth, TX, where he graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Music Education in 2023.

During his time at TCU, Mr. Mendoza had the privilege of performing with the school’s top ensembles including the TCU wind symphony, symphony orchestra, steel band and percussion orchestra. He also served in the leadership team for the Horned Frog Marching Band during the 2022 football season that ended with a trip to LA for the CFP National Championships. Other notable accomplishments include performing with the TCU Percussion Orchestra at the Percussive Arts Society National Convention in 2022, as well as the publication of his first major work for percussion by C. Alan Publications. This same work was also premiered internationally by the Taipei National University of the Arts in Taiwan.

Since his graduation, Mr. Mendoza has spent his time working as a private lesson instructor and commissioning/arranging music for schools in and outside the DFW area.

Scott Mills
Director of Guards

Mr. Scott Mills, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, serves as the Color Guard director for Liberty High School. Scott has worked with various ensembles throughout Missouri, Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas. Some of these schools included Parkview High School, Deep Run High School, Cleveland High School, Marcus High School, Allen High School, Pattonville High School, and Green Hope High School.

Mr. Mills graduated from Pattonville High School, where he was an active member in the marching, concert, and jazz bands. As a senior, he served as the Drum Major for the Pride of Pattonville marching band. He then went on to march in the Missouri State University Pride Color Guard (2007-2010). Since then, he has performed in several other ensembles including National Avenue Winter Guard (2008), The Pride of Missouri State Winter Guard (2009-2011), First Flight Winter Guard (2012-2014, 2016), and CGT Dallas Winter Guard (2017). Scott was also able to spend three summers (2008-2010) marching with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.

As an instructor, Mr. Mills has helped marching bands and color guards achieve positions in both Bands of America Grand National Semi Finals, as well as Winter Guard International Finals. He also acted as the Assistant Caption Head/Technician for the Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps (2013-2016). As a member of the Carolina Gold staff, he acted as one of the charter staff members for the Independent A class Legacy Independent presented by Carolina Gold Winter Guard.

Jamie Weaver
Director EMERITUS

Mr. Jamie Weaver was the Director of Bands at Liberty HS from 2014-2024 and Associate Director of Bands from 2012-2014. Prior to coming to Liberty, he was the first Director of Bands at Creek Valley Middle School in Lewisville ISD (Hebron HS cluster) from 2001-2012 and before his tenure at Creek Valley, Mr. Weaver was the director of bands at Groesbeck Middle School in Groesbeck, Texas. While in Groesbeck, his middle school band was awarded the first UIL Sweepstakes award in the history of the school and was named a State Finalist in the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series in 2000. He concurrently served as assistant director at Groesbeck High School where they were named State Finalist in the TMEA State Honor Band Competition in class AAA.

As founder of Front and Center Motivational Seminars, Mr. Weaver spends approximately 100 days each calendar year presenting leadership and team-building seminars for teachers and students around the United States. He has been on staff at the Music for All Summer Symposium since 1991 and became Director of the elite SWAG Team in 2002. He can be found “at-the-gate” each fall at many of the Bands of America Fall Marching Band Regional Championships as well as Grand Nationals Championships leading bands onto the field.

Mr. Weaver is one of only three to serve as drum major of the University of Kentucky “Wildcat” Marching Band for four years and has been an instructor with the nationally acclaimed George N. Parks Drum Major Academy since 1991. A graduate of the University of Kentucky, Mr. Weaver studied trumpet with Vince DiMartino, Bob Thompson, and Terry Everson and was awarded honorary membership into the Theta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. Mr. Weaver recently earned his Master’s Degree in Non-Profit Administration from Louisiana State University at Shreveport.

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