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Meet The Directors

Our staff is committed to all students receiving a high-quality music education. Students are challenged and encouraged in their growth as musicians and young leaders. The staff focuses on providing students with positive performance opportunities and enjoying success as a byproduct from diligent practice and focused effort.

Director of Bands

Brett Nelson

Brett Nelson is the Director of Bands at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, part of the North East Independent School District. In this role, he leads the Marching Band and Wind Ensemble, overseeing all aspects of the school’s band program. Prior to joining Reagan, Brett served as the Director of Bands at Friendswood High School (FHS). Under his leadership, the Mustang Marching Band achieved notable distinctions, including being a UIL 5A State Marching Contest Finalist, Bands of America Regional Finalist, and Class Champion. The Friendswood Concert Bands earned accolades as three-time National Winners in the Mark of Excellence Wind Band Honors Project and a Medal of Distinction National Winner in 2021. The Friendswood Wind Ensemble also placed third in the 2023 Texas Music Educators Association 5A State Honor Band Competition.
Before his tenure at FHS, Brett was the Director of Bands at Jersey Village High School in Houston, Texas. There, his students made history by advancing to the UIL 6A State Marching Band Contest for the first time and achieving recognition as National Winners in the Mark of Excellence Wind Band Honors Project, TMEA Area Honor Band Finalists, and UIL Sweepstakes award winners.
Brett holds education and performance degrees from Texas State University. He has benefited from the mentorship of prominent trumpet and band education figures, including Raymond Crisara, Dr. Keith Winking, Beth Bronk, Tom Bennett, Denis Kidwell, Eddie Green, Greg Dick, Tye Ann Payne, Marion West, and Dr. Mary Ellen Cavitt. His professional affiliations include memberships in TMEA, TBA, TMAA, and TFAA.
Brett and his wife, Courtney, have two children, Madison and Eli.
Assistant Director of Bands

Tyler Estrada Simon

Mr. Estrada Simon is an Associate Director of Bands at Ronald Reagan High School and began his teaching career in the Spring of 2017. Prior to his appointment to Ronald Reagan, Mr. Estrada Simon served as the Director of Bands at Franklin HS in El Paso, TX. While at Franklin HS, he was the director of the marching band, wind symphony and Jazz 1 ensemble. Under his tenure, the marching band received superior ratings in multiple marching contests and was a finalist for the New Mexico State Tournament of Bands. Mr. Estrada Simon’s wind ensembles received numerous excellence and superior ratings at the UIL concert and sight reading contest. His Jazz 1 ensemble was also named grand champion of the Hanks HS Jazz Contest in 2022.

Mr. Estrada Simon is a graduate of Texas Tech University (Guns Up!) where he attained degrees in Music Education and Music Performance. While at Texas Tech, he was principal chair for both the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band on Euphonium and Trombone. He was also a Drum Major for the Goin’ Band from Raiderland. During his time at Texas Tech, Mr. Estrada Simon, studied abroad at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England where he studied with Euphonium soloist, Steven Mead. While abroad Mr. Estrada Simon found a position as a Baritone Soloist with the Rainford Brass Band. That year he performed with Rainford, the brass band won their divisional championship.

Mr. Estrada Simon is an active performer.  He previously held the title of principal euphonium for both the Houston Brass Band (2017, 2018, 2019)  and El Paso Winds (2020, 2021).

Mr. Estrada Simon is very grateful for his wife, Lauren, and their two dogs, Ella & Finn.

Professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas BandMasters Association, Texas Jazz Educators Association, and Young Band Directors of Texas.

Assistant Director of Bands

Paula Boothman

Paula Boothman is an Assistant Band Director at Ronald Reagan High School. She attended the University of Texas at Austin where she studied Music Education. During her time at UT, Ms. Boothman served as the drum major of the Longhorn Band from 2022-2024. She also played clarinet in the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony. 

In her spare time, Ms. Boothman loves to get outdoors, read, and spend time with her cats Blueberry and Tito.

Ms. Boothman could not be more excited to join the Ronald Reagan Band family. The program and its community are truly unparalleled, and it’s an honor to contribute to the continuation of that tradition. I can’t wait to meet everyone, and I look forward to working with you! Strike ’em!

Director of Percussion

Ray Ulibarri

Mr. Ray Ulibarri began his percussion career in Westminster, Colorado, working with local marching bands as a percussion technician. He became the director of the percussion program at Pomona High School in 1995, where the band earned 11 State Marching Band Championships. The Percussion ensemble was a two-time medalist and perennial finalist at The WGI World Championships. In 2006, Ray relocated to Texas and, after a brief stint in Houston, moved to San Antonio in 2009. He began teaching at Ronald Reagan High School, where he is entering year 15 with the band. In addition he is also the current percussion arranger for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corp. Ray has also been very fortunate to serve as a music educator for the Blue Coats Drum & Bugle Corps, where he was the percussion caption head from 2005-2008. In addition, he has been on the percussion Staff for Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, both winter and summer ensembles.

Ray was privileged to Study and be mentored by Ralph Hardimon, a legend in the Marching Arts. Mr. Hardimon was instrumental in Ray’s development as a music arranger and teacher. In addition, he studied at the University of Colorado, where he served as an assistant with the Golden Buffalo Marching Band. Ray studied with Doug Walter, Mark Foster, and Gray Barrier.

Ray has been fortunate to arrange percussion music for numerous ensembles and marching bands. He has worked as a music designer with the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble, Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and countless high schools nationwide. His arrangements have been featured at the Tournament of Roses parades, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the University Interscholastic League’s Texas State Marching Contest, and Bands of America Regional, Super Regional, and Grand National Championships. Ray has been the percussion arranger for the Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band since 2010.

Ray also enjoys a unique opportunity to serve the percussion community as an adjudicator for WGI at all levels.

Ray Ulibarri proudly endorses D’addario, including Vic Firth Drumsticks, Evans Drumheads, and Planet Waves cables. He also is proud to be a Zildjian and Yamaha artist.

Ray currently resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his amazing wife Marissa, daughter Catarina, and his new baby boy Rey.

Color Guard Director

Kim Booher

Kim Booher, originally from Crestwood, KY, began participating in color guard in high school. While attending college at Northern Kentucky University and earning her degree in Elementary Education, she began teaching various color guard programs in Ohio and Kentucky. For 15 years, Kim participated with the Onyx Winter Guard organization from Dayton, Ohio either as a marching member or a staff member. She also spent 5 summers as a staff member with Cincinnati Glory and Marion Glory Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.

Kim moved to San Antonio, TX in 2008 where she was the Color Guard Director at Judson High School for 9 years. She also spent 7 years as a staff member with Identity Winter Guard, the 2013 WGI IO World Champion from San Marcos, Texas. Kim spent 3 years as the Color Guard Director at Winston Churchill HS followed by 3 years as the Director at Davenport HS. Kim Joined the Color Guard staff at Ronald Reagan HS in the fall of 2020.

Kim has been the Color Guard Coordinator with the Texas State University Bobcat Marching Band since 2014, go Bobcats!  In 2015, Kim began serving as the Vice President of Color Guard for the Texas Color Guard Circuit. Kim is a past TCGC CG Task Force member and has served on many different committees for the circuit. She co-directs the second unit from the Origins organization, Origins Open from Austin, TX.  Over the years, Kim has served as a color guard adjudicator for various marching band and winter guard events along with participating in the MEPA, Tri-State, and OIPA color guard circuits in various capacities.  Kim Booher continues to serve as a color guard clinician, designer, choreographer, and consultant.

Asst Color Guard Director

Tykeem Rainey

Tykeem Rainey is an active choreographer and the guard director at Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Tx.

Tykeem was a member of the color guard at the Madison Scouts from 2008-2011. Upon aging out, Tykeem served as an intern and staff member from 2012-2014. During the off season, Tykeem had the opportunity to march with Impact Independent from Northern Virginia, Virginia from 2008-2012 and won the WGI Independent A Gold Medal.

In 2014, Tykeem had the opportunity to perform in the Tony and Emmy Award Winning production, “BLAST!” that toured many prefectures throughout Japan. From 2015 to 2018, Tykeem performed and choreographed “Mix it Up,” a staged theme show located at Busch Gardens, in Williamsburg, Virginia. In the spring of 2017, Tykeem earned his bachelor’s degree (With Honors) in History (Concentration in Caribbean Slavery) from Virginia Commonwealth University located in Richmond, Virginia. Tykeem’s most recent summer was spent with the 2021 Madison Scouts Color Guard.

Currently, Tykeem is the lead choreographer and visual coordinator for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps as well as a Co-Director of Origins Open. Tykeem is also a choreographer and technician to color guards and other ensembles such as: Hickory High School, Hebron High School, Cedar Park High School, Claudia Taylor Johnson High School, Davenport High School, Frenship High School, Origins Open, Origins World, George Mason World, and ONYX World.