Pleasants County Schools and St. Marys High School are proud to announce the new Band Director for St. Marys High School, Mrs. Bridgette Bowen Casto.
Bridgette Casto,
New Band Director for SMHS & Music Teacher for SMHS/ SMES
Casto assumed the duties as the new director on July 25 and attended band camp with the band to start her official duties. Casto comes to SMHS with a wealth of experience. After graduating with a degree in Music from Glenville State, she served as the band director at Calhoun County High School for five years where she doubled the size of the band and increased the proficiency and performance level of the group. She then began her work in Roane County Schools in 2010 where she served in different full-time capacities as a general music teacher at Spencer Elementary and then the choir and theater director and music teacher at Roane County High School. During her entire time in Roane County, she served as the assistant marching band director for the high school . Casto has worked with music students for honor bands, all-state auditions, and various other capacities. In addition to her degree from Glenville, she also holds a master's degree.
Prior to her official duties beginning, Casto volunteered with summer band rehearsals which were led by Steve Jones, Pleasants County Middle School's director of bands, who served as interim director for SMHS until she was able to begin her official duties. PCS and SMHS would like to thank Jones for serving in this capacity, and Kristi Jones, who helped him clean and organize the band room to be ready for the new director.
From the first day she began her responsibilities, Casto implemented her new growth plan for the band which includes several methods and strategies to grow the number of members in the band, increase the musical opportunities for the students, and increase the proficiency and skill of the ensembles over the next several years while maintaining and reviving SMHS Band Traditions. Her plans and skill in growing band programs come from her experience in both Calhoun and Roane Counties. In addition to her roles at SMHS, she will also teach general music courses at St. Marys Elementary.
She is married to Aaron Casto of St. Marys, and they have children who follow in her footsteps of musical talent.