Don Pettit
Director of Bands
Mr. Pettit took over the position of band director for the West Lafayette School Corporation at the start of the 2012/2013 school year. Mr. Pettit lives in Lafayette with his wife, Emily, and their two pugs, Paisley and Ariel. He is originally from northwest Indiana and he lived in Evansville from 2001 to 2006. He moved to Lafayette in 2006.
Mr. Pettit earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Evansville where he studied trumpet with Dr. Timothy ZIfer. Mr. Pettit earned his Master of Educational Administration degree from Purdue University and holds a Building Level Administrator’s license. Prior to coming to West Side he spent six years as the band director at Carroll Jr./Sr. High School and also directed the choirs there for a short time, as well. The Carroll band department quintupled in size under Mr. Pettit’s leadership and they performed in a variety of venues, including Orlando, Florida. Mr. Pettit is thrilled to be a part of the West Lafayette band family and is always working to continue the tradition of excellence for the West Lafayette Band Department!
Michelle Brooks
Director of Orchestras, Assistant Symphony Orchestra Director
Michelle Brooks is the Director of Orchestras for the West Lafayette Community School Corporation. A 25-year veteran of the teaching profession, and a West Lafayette High School graduate, Mrs. Brooks received her professional training at Brigham Young University. She performs in several chamber ensembles in Tippecanoe County, as well as the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to her leadership, West Side boasts one of the largest and most successful string programs in Indiana, with over 350 students in grades 4-12 participating in the orchestra program.
Carol Letcher
Music Department Head
Carol Letcher has been a West Lafayette resident for seventeen years.
Originally from Colorado, she received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Colorado Boulder, Master’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Missouri Kansas City, and worked on a Doctor of Arts in Voice at the University of Northern Colorado.
She is currently a music teacher with the West Lafayette School Corporation and has taught previously in Colorado and Kansas, in addition to church music positions in Valparaiso, Indiana, California, Illinois and the Kansas City area.