Joel M. Price grew up in San Antonio where he was an active member in his elementary, middle school, and high school choirs.  He attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas where he earned two Bachelor of Music Degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance.  Mr. Price completed his student teaching in RISD at Brentfield Elementary and Westwood Jr. High.  Before returning to Westwood as a “real” teacher, he taught elementary music and middle school choir in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Plano school districts.  In 2008, Mr. Price was named a statewide finalist in the H-E-B Excellence in Education award program.  He was honored to be selected as the RISD Secondary Teacher of the Year for the 2004-2005 school year.  Mr. Price served the region as Middle School/Junior High Vocal Chair for five years and a two-year term as the Middle School/Junior High Vice President of the Texas Choral Directors Association. An avid reader, Mr. Price also collects (and wears!) musical and holiday ties.  In his twenty-eighth year of teaching, Mr. Price is excited to be back at Westwood for his twenty-third year and looks forward to another successful school year.