THE FIRST time Paula Watts picked up her instrument in North Middle School’s band room, the world suddenly made a little more sense. Students tuned their instruments, chair legs scraped against the tile, and off-key notes quickly found their pitch. At the front of the room stood Lee Herring, North Middle School’s beloved band director. He had a special way of turning every practice into something they looked forward to. In his classroom, mistakes weren’t failures but steps forward, and every student knew they belonged.
Watts remembers those days vividly — the way Herring balanced discipline with fun, how he demanded excellence without ever making it feel like pressure. He taught his students more than just music; he taught them life lessons that stuck with them after high school.
“The biggest thing I carried from him is that we can be serious in the classroom, but we can also have fun and create a culture that makes kids want to learn more,” Watts recalled.
That lesson stayed with her and influenced the way she teaches her students today.
Now, as a band director at North Middle School — the very place where she found her love for music — Watts pours that same energy, grace, and encouragement into her students. She makes sure they develop a love for music and carry with them the confidence it helps build along the way.
Though she discovered her love for music in middle school, high school is where Watts realized it could become her career.
“My sophomore year, I thought, ‘I think I could really do this — enjoy this — for the rest of my life.’ And that feeling never went away,” she shared.
“I knew she would not only come into the job and be wonderful at it but that she would carry the program to much greater heights than I ever considered,” Herring added. “New blood armed with passion, great ideas, and a refusal to quit is great. New blood with those things and who is a former student … priceless.”
With students charting their own paths and dreams, Watts understands that many won’t pursue music as a career. Still, she encourages them to stick with the band through high school and hopes that they carry an appreciation for it throughout their lives.
Watts said, “I hope they always love music in some form or fashion and learn to support their music programs wherever they settle down.”
Since many students don’t have their own instruments, Watts makes sure that money isn’t a reason they miss out.
Many of her students rely on school-owned instruments, and thanks to the generosity of their band backers, the program provides books, instruments, and online resources. When needed, the community even steps in to help with concert attire.
To prepare for high-stakes auditions, such as the Middle Tennessee Honor Band and the Tri-Lakes Regional Honor Band, she encourages her students to play for one another in class, which helps them build confidence bit by bit. Even if they don’t make the cut, the real reward is in the effort and growth they show along the way.
Teaching comes with challenges, and one of Watts’ biggest challenges is addressing students’ struggles with self-confidence.
“Every year, I see self-esteem dropping lower,” she explained.
“Helping kids overcome that — whether in music or academics — is tough but so rewarding. Watching them reach small milestones and then achieve something big is what keeps me going.”
Looking back, she has one message for her younger self and her students: “I don’t always have to be the best. My best is good enough.”
With the support of her community and the same passion that drove her from the start, Watts continues to teach her students that the real beauty of music lies in the notes and the lessons it leaves behind. GN
