Director of Bands 

John Rodriguez is a Palm Beach County School District product graduating from Santaluces High School in 2004. John also is a  graduate of the University of South Florida receiving his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance and Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 2009. John continued his studies at the University of Maryland earning a Master of Music in Jazz Performance in 2012. Mr. Rodriguez returned to South Florida and began his teaching career as an Elementary Music Teacher with Seminole Trails Elementary from 2012 - 2017. John earned the Teamwork USA Instrumental Music Grant, the Teamwork USA Elementary Scholarship Grant, the Green Schools Recognition Program and was nominated as Teacher of the Year from 2014-2017.


In 2017 John began his 6 year tenure as the Director of Bands at Palm Beach Gardens High School. In 2021 The Mighty Fightin' Gator Indoor Ensemble earned a Silver Medal in FFCC's Indoor Winds Category in 2021 and went undefeated in SFWGA's Indoor season. They finished 8th in the entire nation for the Indoor Winds category in their first year! The Mighty Fightin’ Gator Marching Band swept their class at the John I. Leonard Jamboree, and finished 2nd at the Jupiter Festival of Bands. The Marching Band also attended the Florida Marching Band Championships for the first time in school history earning a spot in Finals competition and coming in 4th in the state! Under the baton of Mr. Rodriguez, the wind ensemble has earned a superior rating the past two years and the Jazz Band achieved superior status last year. John has also enhanced the school’s Winterguard program, expanded from one team to two teams and earned multiple top 3 placements and a Gold Medal in 2019 in the South Florida Winterguard Association Circuit. 


In 2023 John Rodriguez was named the Director of Bands for  Dr. Joaquín García High School in Lake Worth and continues to bring musical experiences through excellence to the community, state, and nation. In their inaugural year the Bulldog Band Program earned a Superior Rating at District Concert Band MPA and were GOLD Medalist for the South Florida Winterguard Association Circuit Championships. 2024 & 2025 promise to be a strong continuation of the groundwork being laid at Dr. Joaquín García High School. Go Bulldogs!