Jason R. Smith is a 1992 graduate of North Lamar High School in Paris, Texas. He attended college at Oklahoma City University, graduating in 1996 suma cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education. In July 2010, Mr. Smith completed his Master’s of Education Degree from East Central University.
Mr. Smith performed his student teaching at Moore H.S. in Moore, OK, and his first teaching position was with Norman Public Schools. He left Norman for Eufaula Public Schools in 1998. He taught for two years at Eufaula, Oklahoma and was recognized as outstanding Jazz Educator at the University of Tulsa Jazz Festival 1999, and earned superior ratings in Sight-Reading with the 6th-7th grade band. After two years in Eufaula, Mr. Smith left to join McAlester Public Schools. At McAlester, he earned ten consecutive years of superior ratings in concert and sight-reading with his 8th grade band, was OMEA Honor Band in 2008; he was also the marching band coordinator / visual designer with ten consecutive years of superior ratings from OSSAA and finalist at OBA State Championships, as well as many other awards at regional marching contest.
Composing/arranging have been a big part of Mr. Smith’s musical life, and has written/arranged over 100 pieces for the various ensembles.
At North Lamar, he has been designing the marching shows for the North Lamar Marching Band who placed 2nd in class 3A UIL State Marching Contest in 2010, 5th in 2012, and 2nd in 2014, State Champion in 2016 and has earned several best in class awards at regional marching band contest.
The North Lamar Concert Band (non-Varsity) also earned UIL Sweepstakes every year under his direction since 2010, and was a state finalist in OPS in 2017.
Jason Smith has taught with the University of Arkansas Summer Music camps for 9 years, and has done three tours of Europe as a conductor for the Oklahoma Music Ambassadors, four tours of Europe as a conductor for the Lone Star Ambassadors Music and has performed in musical theater orchestras across Singapore and Malaysia.
He belongs to the Texas Music Educators Association, Association of Texas Small School Bands, National Music Educators Association, National Federation of High Schools Association, Oklahoma Music Adjudicators Association, International Trombone Association, Texas Golf Association and the United States Golf Association.
Jason is currently the Director of Bands for Princeton ISD.
He has served as the secretary/treasurer for Region 4, and the 4A representative to the ATSSB State Board of Directors.
In his free time, he serves as a rules official for the Texas Golf Association, United States Golf Association, America Junior Golf Association, NCAA, rules committee for Texas Golf Association, and tournament committee and treasurer for the Men’s Golf Association at Paris Golf & Country Club and follows his wife across the country in her avid pursuit of competitive archery.