About Us
Joseph Cox, M. Ed
Director of Bands, Burnet CISD
Joseph Cox is beginning his 11th year in Burnet CISD where he was previously the percussion instructor for 7 years. His previous teaching engagements include 4 years at Mabank ISD and 10 years at Waller ISD. Mr. Cox is in his 25th year of teaching. He is a proud Burnet High School graduate - class of '97. His undergraduate degree is in music education from Howard Payne University '01. He also has a Master's degree in educational administration from Lamar University '10.
Mr. Cox lives outside of Burnet with his wife Cindy, daughter Mary Ainsley, son Kaden, and two dogs. When not teaching, Mr. Cox enjoys hunting, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and working on his laser and CNC business Burnet Woodcrafts.
Jacob Picht
Band Director Burnet High School and Marching Band Coordinator
Jacob Picht is currently the Assistant Director of Bands and Marching Band Coordinator at Burnet High School in Burnet, Texas. During his tenure at Burnet, the Burnet High School Esprit De Corps has been consistently named the Class 2A Champion at the Bands of America Austin Regional Championship, and class champions at local competitions in the greater Austin, Texas area. The EDC has also appeared in the UIL 4A State Marching Contest on multiple occasions. As a concert band conductor, the Burnet High School Symphonic Band advanced to the ATSSB Outstanding Performance Series Area round for the first time in 2023, and in 2024 was named a state finalist for the first time in school history.
Originally from Wichita Falls, Texas, Jacob is a proud alumnus of the University of North Texas, where he earned his bachelor's degree in music education while studying trumpet under the guidance of Dr. Raquel Samayoa.
Jacob's performance career includes substantial participation in Drum Corps International. He was a member of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps (2018, 2019) the Blue Knights (2020), and Carolina Crown (2021). As an educator, he has served on the brass faculty of the Troopers (2022), and currently serves on the brass faculty of the Madison Scouts (2023-Present).
His professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the Association of Texas Small School Bands.
Brian Pranger
Head Band Director Burnet Middle School
Brian Pranger is in his second year as the head middle school band director in Burnet CISD. His previous teaching experience includes serving as the middle school band director in Blanco ISD where his band placed at the state level in both the TMEA Honor Band, and ATSSB Outstanding Performance series. His previous teaching experience also includes time in Santa Fe, NM, Richardson West Junior High and schools in Arkansas. Mr Pranger is in his 18th year of teaching. He is an honors graduate with a degree in music education from Arkansas Tech University, and is currently pursuing a master's degree in instructional design.
Michaela Schwyhart
Band Director Burnet Middle School
Reese Spano
Percussion Director
Burnet High School & Burnet Middle School
In his 4th year of teaching, Mr. Spano will be joining the Burnet ISD band staff as the Percussion Director. Prior to Burnet, Mr. Spano spent his first 3 years building and evolving Wimberley ISD’s percussion program and traveling around the central Texas region as a marching consultant/clinician.
Along with stabilizing Wimberley’s successful percussion culture, Mr Spano created Wimberley High School’s very first Salsa Band in 2023.
Mr. Spano graduated from Texas State University in 2022 with a bachelors in Music Education and has years of experience in both DCI and WGI with groups such as Genesis Drum and Bugle corps, Rhythmic Force Indoor Percussion, Violet Crown Indoor Percussion, etc 2014-2018. Since 2024, Mr. Spano has been a Quad consultant for World Class WGI Finalist, Rhythmic Force Indoor Percussion. Mr. Spano currently plays drumset for several country, rock, jazz, R&B bands in the Austin/Central Texas area.
Mr. Spano’s philosophy on band is to help each student walk out of the band hall with a better attitude/mindset than when they walked in. The band hall is the ideal place for students to grow their life skills through embracing the passion for music. Mr. Spano seeks to improve and foster the growth of each and every student that walks through those band hall doors.
Caity Clinton
Highlandette Drill Team and EDC Dance Team Director
Burnet High School
Caity has been director of the Burnet High School Highlandettes Dance Team since 2008. Caity began participating in dance classes at the age of 2 and continued her studio training until she graduated high school. She is a Burnet High School graduate and was member of the Highlandettes under the direction of her mother, Deidra Robertson. She had the honor to serve as an officer her junior and senior years. Caity attended Kilgore College where she was a member of the 65th line of the World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education.
Caity had the opportunity to perform in events at the Dallas Cowboy Halftime Show, Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame, AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas, Carnival Cruise Line featured performances, and the Texas State Society Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball and Parade in Washington DC.
Caity has been happily married to her husband Tres since 2011.
They have two beautiful daughters and a sweet boy.