Our Team

Melissa ISD is proud to welcome Katie Patel as Head Director of Choirs at Melissa High School. With 12 years of experience and a proven record of excellence, Mrs. Patel brings a passion for student growth and high-quality choral instruction to the Melissa Choir program.

Most recently, Mrs. Patel served as Head Choir Director at Jasper High School in Plano ISD, where she was named the 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year. During her tenure, she grew the choir program from 111 students to a projected 294 students, reflecting a strong culture of student engagement and program success. Her ensembles consistently earned superior ratings at UIL, and her students were actively involved in the TMEA All-State process and in solo and ensemble events. Under her leadership, the Non-Varsity A Cappella Mixed Choir was selected as a 2025 Invited Honor Choir at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, one of the highest honors in Texas choral music.

Mrs. Patel is an active leader in the North Texas choral community, having served as an assistant conductor with the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas and currently as Principal Conductor of the Treble Youth Chorus with the Greater Dallas Choral Society. She is also a recipient of the Texas Choral Directors Association’s Young Director of Distinction award.

She holds both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Texas Tech University. Mrs. Patel resides in McKinney with her husband, Neal, Head Director of Choirs at Highland Park High School, and their son, Dylan. They are excited to welcome a daughter this summer.