Directors

David Bouma

Director of Bands

dabouma@episd.org

David Austin Bouma is proudly serving the Franklin High School Band as Director of Bands. Prior to his current position at Franklin, David worked in the Alamogordo Public Schools as the Alamogordo High School Director of Bands from the spring of 2019 to the spring of 2023. While in Alamogordo, David also served as the Alamogordo High School Orchestra Director in addition to becoming the Music Coordinator for the Alamogordo Public Schools. With the help of his team, David led the Alamogordo Tiger Band to become a top competitor at Bands of America, Zia Marching Fiesta, SISD Marchfest, and the Tournament of Bands, earning awards for Top-of-Class among many caption awards. Under the direction of David Bouma, the Alamogordo Tiger Band earned placements in the Finals competitions for the first time in over a decade. In addition to leading the band proper, David was the director for an award-winning jazz band and an orchestra who earned excellent and superior ratings at the district large group festivals.


David Bouma holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from New Mexico State University. As a student musician, David performed with multiple groups including the New Mexico State Wind Symphony, the New Mexico State Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New Mexico State University Jazz 1 where he and his peers traveled to Spain to represent Jazz in a foreign country. It was with the NMSU Jazz Band that David played trombone on an award-winning studio album. David is an accomplished low brass musician, with roots in euphonium and bass trombone playing. 


In addition to being a band director, David Bouma is a proud husband to Claudette, and father to Faye. Many of his friends and family, including his spouse, are proud alumni of the Franklin High School Star of the West Band. Due to his close ties to the program, he says he "feels at home" with the Franklin Band.


David is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the New Mexico Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and the International Tuba Euphonium Association.


Patrick Caraveo

Associate Director of Bands

pacarave@episd.org

Patrick Anthony Caraveo is an Assistant Director of Bands at Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas. Patrick Caraveo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from The University of Texas at El Paso. During his undergraduate studies, Patrick performed with the UTEP Wind Symphony, UTEP Jazz 1 Ensemble, the Marching Miners, and the Guardians Drum and Bugle Corps. Through these ensembles, Patrick has performed at various events such as the American Bandmasters Association (ABA) Convention and the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Convention. In addition, Patrick is a Life Member of the Honorary Band Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi where he held various leadership roles such as Chapter President and Southwest District President.

Patrick Caraveo is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association.

David Alvarado

Associate Director of Bands

dralvara@episd.org

David Ramon Alvarado is an Assistant Director of Bands at Franklin High School in El Paso, Texas. David was most recently at Bel Air Middle School where he began his teaching career and previously completed his student teaching in the Parkland learning community. He graduated in the fall of 2023 with his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. During his time at UTEP he performed with various concert and athletic ensembles as a saxophonist. He was also the drum major of the UTEP Marching Miners and performed with the UTEP Dinner Theater. David also performed in and directed the UTEP Saxophone Choir. While at UTEP, David worked with EPISD as a high-impact tutor, a substitute teacher, and a elementary school math tutor at Thomas Manor Elementary School. David is a proud graduate of Riverside High School. 

Outside of school, David enjoys golf, pickle ball, and table tennis. Most importantly he enjoys his time with friends and his family, parents David and Jennifer, siblings Alaina and Devin, and dogs Lonny and Wookie. 

David aspires for his students to become lifelong musicians through music education. 

David is an active member of the Texas Music Educators Association. 


Ximena Moreno

Guard Director

Ximena Moreno is currently the head Guard Director for the Franklin Focus Color Guard. Ximena has been a part of the color guard community for six years and counting. Recently, Ximena concluded her first season with the Glory Independent Winter Guard located in El Paso, Texas.


Ximena has competed in various color guard contests such as WGI Phoenix and Winter Guard International World Championships in Dayton, Ohio.


Ximena is currently studying at the University of Texas at El Paso and pursuing a major in English with a minor in Secondary Education in order to become a high school teacher. In addition to being a guard director, Ximena works at a local elementary school as a college tutor creating positive and engaging environments with all grade.


Dawn Menchaca 

Twirler Director

Dawn Menchaca has a strong passion in teaching, coaching and mentoring. She has been involved at Franklin since 2008. Currently, she is a Business Teacher, Twirler Director, and Adviser for the FBLA Club on the Franklin campus. Dawn Menchaca is a graduate of the Texas Tech Rawls Business School. 

She has 4 sons which include a lawyer, two educators, and a supply chain manager. Dawn believes it is important to share the talents and gifts we have been given, and has twirled since the age of 5. As a twirler she has competed in USTA and NBTA across the nation, and was classified "advanced" and at age 11 when she ranked 5th in the nation. Under her direction, Franklin is the only school in El Paso to have a UIL Baton Twirling Program and Franklin is the only EPISD School to have a FBLA! Dawn Menchaca's goal is to be a role model that inspires all of her students!