North Pulaski Band Directors
Karen Dismuke
Karen Dismuke is in her 28th year of teaching and 21st year at North Pulaski High School. Before coming to North Pulaski, she taught at Ole
Main High School, J.A. Fair High School and Norphlet High School. She also served as Brass Instructor for Delta Brigade Drum and Bugle
Corps in 1994.

Ms. Dismuke received her Bachelors of Music Education from Henderson State University in 1982 and has hours toward a Masters Degree in
Secondary School Leadership at the University of Central Arkansas. She has served as a clinician and adjudicator for marching bands and
concert bands throughout the state of Arkansas.

Ms. Dismuke has received many honors, such as 1992 North Pulaski Teacher of the Year, 1994 Pulaski County Special School District Fine Arts
Excellence in Education Award, Outstanding Young Women of America, Who's Who Among Young American Professionals, Who's Who
Among American Teachers, 1999 Channel Four's "My Favorite Teacher", nominated for the 2001 and 2002 Disney American Teacher Awards
and was named Arkansas' Outstanding Music Educator for 2009 by The National Federation of High Schools.

She is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, National Band Association, Arkansas School Band Directors Association , American School Band
Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu serving on the Executive Board, Arkansas Women Band Directors Association serving as President, Vice
President and Treasurer, Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association serving as Region VI Chairman and Secretary and President and
Parliamentarian of ASBOA.

Under her direction, the North Pulaski High School Band has earned many honors including: ASBOA Sweepstakes Award for First Division
Ratings in marching, concert and sight-reading for 19 consecutive years, 1991 Sweepstakes Winner at Worlds of Fun Music Festival in Kansas
City, MO, 1994 Best in Class at North American Music Festival in Atlanta, Georgia and the Arkansas representative in the 1997,2000 and 2003
National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C.
Patrick Combs
Patrick Combs is a graduate of Lakeside High School in Hot Springs and Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. While at ATU, he served as
President of Kappa Kappa Psi, was a member of the ATU Symphonic Band, Squad Leader and Section Leader.  He also received the Dix
Stallings Outstanding Senior Bandsman Award in 2009.  Along with his duties as Assistant Band Director at North Pulaski, Mr. Combs is an
Assistant Band Director at Northwood Middle School where he assists with the 7th and 8th Grade Bands and teaches Beginning Woodwinds and
Beginning Brass.  
Sarah Abbott
Sarah Abbott  is a graduate of North Pulaski High School and the University of Central Arkansas. She recently earned her masters degree in
Education from Harding University. She began her teaching career at Sylvan Hills Middle School. She is a member of Arkansas Women Band
Directors Association and Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association. Mrs. Abbott is currently serving as ASBOA Region VI Chairman.  
Along with her duties as Assistant Band Director at North Pulaski, Mrs. Abbott is a Band Director at Northwood Middle School where she
teaches the 7th and 8th Grade Bands, Beginning Woodwinds and Beginning Brass.  
Assistant, Jo Ann Koehler
Assistant, Patty Sacrey
Assistant, Scott Villines
Assistant, Sharon Hawk
Ed Alexander
Bill Westbrook
Mark Grauer
Joseph Larry