Sapulpa Public Schools

Craig Amendt, has served as Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Coordinator for Sapulpa Public Schools for the past ten years. Mr. Amendt completed his degree in Instrumental Music Education with Distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1999. Mr. Amendt served as the Director of Bands at Bristow Public Schools from 1999-2008 and was also awarded High School Teacher of the Year (2007-2008). Under Amendt’s direction, ensembles consistently experience success both musically and competitively.

The band program at Sapulpa consistently earns superior ratings at OSSAA competitions. The Sapulpa Wind Ensemble has been awarded the OSSAA Sweepstakes for the past four years, including an accent sweepstakes (2013-2014) and a double sweepstakes (2015-2016). Mr. Amendt also serves as the conductor of the Sapulpa Community Band, Choral Director, Adult Handbell Director, and Children’s Chimes Director at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tulsa. Mr. Amendt has served in several leadership roles, including a host for the performing ensembles at the Music for All National Festival, horn sectional coach of the Music for All National Honor Band, Oklahoma All-State Band Committee (2014-2016), Vice President of WGPO (2013-2015), and is a member of NAfME, OBA, and OkMEA.

Whitney Yokum is thrilled to be in her first year as an Assistant Band Director for Sapulpa Public Schools. Her responsibilities include teaching the 6th grade flutes and clarinets, directing the 7th grade band, co-teaching the 8th grade band, directing the High School Symphonic Band, assisting with High School Marching Band, overseeing the woodwinds in all grade levels, and maintaining a private woodwind studio. She has a passion for music education and loves spending every day making music with her students. 

Whitney graduated from Owasso High School in 2010, and received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Arkansas in 2015. During her time at the University of Arkansas, Whitney served as the principal bass clarinetist for numerous ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and New Music Ensemble. She also served as the principal bass clarinetist of the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra from 2010-2017. 

Mrs. Yokum spent the first four years of her professional teaching career in Pryor, Oklahoma, where she was selected as the District Teacher of the Year for the 2018-19 school year. Whitney went on to receive the “Rising Star” award from the State Department of Education in the fall of 2018. The following year, she was recognized as the Phi Beta Mu “Young Bandmaster of the Year” for the state of Oklahoma. 

Whitney’s Junior High and High School ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at both District and State Contests. Under her direction, the Pryor High School Concert Band made school history by receiving its very first Sweepstakes Award in 2019. She has maintained a strong private woodwind studio in both Oklahoma and Arkansas for over ten years, and her students have consistently held positions in their top Honor and All-State Bands.

Mrs. Yokum enjoys serving as a guest clinician, and has appeared as a guest artist and lecturer at the University of Arkansas Clarinet Day. She loves spending part of her summers as a counselor and teacher at the University of Arkansas Summer Music Camp, which she has attended for over five years.

Whitney Yokum is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Oklahoma Music Education Association, the North Central Directors’ Association, and the Oklahoma Education Association.

Kevin Mozarko is an educator and performer from Sapulpa, OK. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Oklahoma State University. Currently, Kevin is in his fourth year as the Percussion Coordinator and an Assistant Director at Sapulpa Public Schools. The Sapulpa Wind Ensemble previously performed at the Oklahoma Music Educators National Conference in 2017.

As a performer, Kevin has had the privilege of playing in several respected ensembles, including the Oklahoma State University Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. Kevin has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the International Japan Band Clinic, and the OMEA Convention.

Kevin has served as a Marching Percussion Instructor for several high schools, including Sapulpa High School, Stillwater High School, and has assisted in Perkins-Tryon High School and Centennial High School. He has been a continuous clinician at the Saied’s Sounds of Summer Marching Percussion Camps. He has also served as the Drill Designer and Music Instructor for the Oklahoma State University Winter Drumline.

Kevin Mozarko is a Vic Firth Educator, and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, Oklahoma Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education.

Jason Reznicek is an Assistant Band Director for the Sapulpa Public Schools. He is currently in his first year of teaching in the public school system with the Sapulpa Public Schools.  His responsibilities include teaching 6^th grade trombone, co-teaching the 7^th grade brass class, directing the 8^th Grade Band, assisting with the Jazz Bands, instructing the low brass students involved in applied studies, co-teaching the Symphonic Band, coordinating the visual program of the Marching Band, and facilitating and teaching a Private Lesson Studio. Under his direction, the SJH 8th Grade Band Earned superior ratings at the OSSAA 2019 Concert Band Assessment. 

 Mr. Reznicek attended the University of Arkansas- Fayetteville, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.  During his time at the U of A, he was the vice president of the collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education-Collegiate (NAfMEC), with prior service as the instrumental representative. 

 Reznicek has worked with multiple nationally competitive ensembles, including the Union High School Marching Band (Tulsa, OK) as well as the Bentonville High School Marching Band (Bentonville, AR), as a visual technician, music technician, and low brass instructor.  Furthermore, he has spent time working as an adjudicator of general effect for the Winter Guard and Percussion of Oklahoma circuit. Prior to working with the Sapulpa Public Schools, Mr. Reznicek concluded his undergraduate studies by student teaching with the Broken Arrow Band Program (Broken Arrow, OK).  Mr. Reznicek works as a visual consultant for Oklahoma’s premier Independent indoor percussion program, Resistance Indoor Percussion, and an instructor with the Zephyrus Arts Institute and Oklahoma’s first SoundSport team. 

 He holds current membership for the National Association for Music Education, the Oklahoma Music Educators Association, the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association, and the North Central Directors Association for Oklahoma.

 Mr. Reznicek’s experience as a performing member include, but are not limited to: The Wind Ensemble of the University of Arkansas, the Symphony Orchestra of the University of Arkansas, the Arkansas Music Works Brass Band, the Ozark Mountain British Brass Band, the South City Winds, as well as with Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014 and 2016.