Directors

Mr. Stephenson, Director of Bands

David Stephenson is the Director of Bands and Coordinator of Fine Arts for Alamo Heights ISD. Before coming to Alamo Heights, Mr. Stephenson worked in the Smithson Valley Band program for 12 years where he most recently served as the Director of Bands. He began his teaching career at John H. Wood Middle School in North East ISD.

Mr. Stephenson earned his Bachelor of Music from Texas Tech University in 1998 where he also served as the Drum Major of the Goin' Band from Raiderland. In 2008, Mr. Stephenson received a Master's of Education in Administration from Sam Houston State University.

Mr. Stephenson's wife, Melissa French-Stephenson, is a choir director at Bradley Middle School in North East ISD. They have two boys, James and Sam.

Mrs. Childress, Assistant Band Director

Amber Childress is an assistant band director and percussion specialist at Alamo Heights High School. Mrs. Childress graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Summa Cum Laude. While at Texas State, Mrs. Childress was a member of the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Winds, Texas State Symphony Orchestra, Bobcat Marching Band, percussion ensemble, steel pan ensemble, ceremonial brass, and the Texas State Winter Drumline. As a member of the Wind Symphony she had the privilege of performing at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio and the College Band Directors National Association Conference in Seattle. Mrs. Childress is originally from Seguin, Texas. She is a member of Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Kappa Kappa Psi: National Honorary Fraternity for College Bands. Mrs. Childress lives in San Antonio with her husband Michael and their dog Cora.

Ms. Analisa Rodriguez, Assistant Band Director

Analisa Rodriguez is an assistant band director at Alamo Heights High School. Ms. Rodriguez graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor of Music, Cum Laude. During her time at Trinity, Ms. Rodriguez participated in the Trinity Wind Ensemble, Trinity Orchestra, Trinity Jazz Band, Trinity Brass Quintet, Voix d’Espirit Choir, Pit Orchestra for the musical Three Penny Opera, and the Trinity Stand Band. She also served as the President for Collegiate Texas Music Educators Association and is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Bandmaster Association.

Ms. Rodriguez completed her Master's of Music Education degree at the University of North Texas in Denton. Her current research involves Special Education in the Secondary Instrumental Classroom.

During the summers of 2012, 2014, and 2015, Ms. Rodriguez participated in Drum Corps International where she was a member of Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps as a trumpet player (2012) and a member of Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps as a mellophone player (2014, 2015). Ms. Rodriguez also taught at Central Catholic High School as an intern from 2012-2014. In 2015, Ms. Rodriguez served as a marching band technician for Byron P. Steele II High School.

Ms. Rodriguez is a native of San Antonio and is very excited to be working with the students and faculty at Alamo Heights. In her free time, Ms. Rodriguez enjoys traveling, being outdoors, reading, swing dancing, and taking care of her dog Beauty.

Alamo Heights Junior School Directors

Mr. Steve McGrew, Band Director

Born and raised in Parma, Ohio, Steve McGrew received his bachelor's degree in music education from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio where he studied saxophone with Greg Banaszak. Upon graduation in 2005, he began teaching middle and elementary school band in Gallipolis, Ohio as the head band director at Gallia Academy Junior High for three years. He then spent one year teaching elementary band in Brunswick, Ohio before accepting the band director position in Alamo Heights in 2009.

At the Junior School, Mr. McGrew directs the Honors Band and teaches the beginner saxophone, clarinet and double reed classes. Additionally, he also coaches the Cross Country boys and girls teams.

Mr. Jeff Vogtlin, Assistant Band Director

Jeff Vogtlin is an assistant director at Alamo Heights Junior School and has been working in Alamo Heights for 18 years. He teaches beginner flute, oboe, bassoon, and tuba, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, and assists with Honors band and Concert Band at the Junior School. At the High School Mr. Vogtlin assists with the marching band.

Mr. Vogtlin earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Northern Iowa in 1998. He is currently working on his Masters of Music at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is a member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Ms. Erin Amendola, Assistant Band Director

Ms. Erin Amendola was raised in San Antonio TX, and an alumna of Bradley Middle School and MacArthur High School. She went on to receive her Bachelors Degree and Performance Degree in French Horn Performance from New England Conservatory in Boston Massachusetts.
Upon graduation Ms. Amendola suffered a facial nerve trauma and had to take time off from playing. During this recovery time Ms. Amendola worked as the temporary audition coordinator for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and later became the Events Coordinator for New England Conservatory.
After a two-year recovery Ms. Amendola moved back to San Antonio Texas to pursue her performance career and start a very successful horn studio which resulted in all-region, area and state students. Ms. Amendola also went on went on to play with several orchestral institutions. She was a regular substitute with the San Antonio Symphony, a guest musician with the New World Symphony and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, was a fellow in the Pacific Music Center Orchestra in Japan and played a one-year position with the Louisiana Philharmonic.
Erin has a passion for teaching and received her Certification in Music Education. She has worked as a band director, at both the high school and middle school level, in the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Katy ISD.
In her spare time Erin enjoys: spending quality time with family and friends, walking many miles with her dog, KD; trying to convince her cat, Binky, that she doesn't own the house...or the dog; tending to her butterfly garden; reading; cooking, and coming up with innovative ways to make learning fun.
Ms. Amendola's ambition is to help students find positive paths in life through music. Her life has revolved around her love of music and education. She is very excited too return home to San Antonio and be a part of the Alamo Heights Music program!