Forest High School Band Program

   Ms. Alexander is a native of Kentucky and is a graduate of Western Kentucky University having received both her Bachelor's and Masters in Music Education. Her primary instrument is French Horn. She taught both middle and high school band while in Kentucky.

 

   In 1999 she relocated to Florida to become the band director at Forest High School. In her first year here, she helped the band to receive Superior ratings at both marching and concert MPA's. During her tenure, due mainly to budgetary issues and to address increasing teacher shortages, Marion County Schools switched from a 7 class period day to a 6 class period day. This decision forced band programs across the county to move to either before school or after school rather than during the regular school day. Band enrollment dropped dramatically around the county during this time. Despite enrollment problems and difficulties with scheduling, the marching band continue to receive top honors at various festivals including superior ratings and top 3 finishes at Ocala Marching Festival, Kingdom of the Sun Marching Festival, and the Showcase of Champions in Gainesville. In 2008, the Marching band qualified for and attended the FMBC State Championships in Tampa, Fl.

 

   "Ms. A" encouraged her students to perform in as many outside opportunities where possible, having many FHS students perform with the Kingdom of the Sun Concert Band and several students that were founding member of the Ocala Youth Symphony in 2000. In 2004, a brand new facility was built and Forest High School was relocated to its current location on Maricamp Road, the old Forest High was converted into Marion Technical Institute, a vocational training school, as well as housing some district offices. In 2008, Ms. Alexander and the band participated in a dedication ceremony to rename the auditorium at  MTI (old Forest High) in honor of Mrs. Browne' Greaton Cole, the first band director at Ocala High School.

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   In 2012, Ms. Alexander stepped down from the band but continued to teach at Forest HS in various positions including taking charge of the OJT program and being the school liason for the CTE courses. In 2018, She moved into administration, becoming a dean and then an assistant principal at Lake Weir Middle School. In 2021, she moved to New Mexico where she was offered a position as a middle school principal.

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