Christian Ricketts (BME ’19) is in his second year as the Band Director at DeLand Middle School and has been honored four times by administration and students.  

In October of 2021 he was named Social & Emotional Learning Teacher of the Month for mentoring students coming out of COVID and he received Teacher of the Month honors again in April of 2022.  Both were kudos from Administration.  Then in June of 2022, he was honored as one of three awarded “Rookie Teacher of the Year” out of more than 10 new teachers.  Finally, most recently, he was chosen by the students as  
Teacher of the Month for October of 2022, which included a wonderful video tribute from the students.  

He also serves on the Marching Band staff for DeLand High School.  

In addition to all of his good work with the students of DeLand Middle School and High School, he continues to perform on bass clarinet, playing with the Southern Winds, Central Florida Winds, Space Coast Ensemble, Encore Performing Art Orchestra in Orlando as well as being chosen to perform with the Orlando Philharmonic and at the Disney Candlelight Processional in EPCOT.