Greg Benson | Director of Bands

Mr. Benson serves as Director of Bands at Pickerington High School North (PHSN), beginning his tenure at PHSN in the 2018-2019 school year. Mr. Benson is grateful to work with the incredible and hard working students, parents, and staff of the Pickerington North Band Program to continue to preserve and grow the tradition of excellence that has been a hallmark of the North Bands since their inception. Mr. Benson is entering his ninth year of teaching music in Ohio, having previously served as Assistant Director of Bands at Grove City High School in Grove City, Ohio for four years, and as Director of Bands at Gallia Academy High School in Gallipolis, Ohio for two years. Mr. Benson received a master's in music education from Capital University and a bachelor's from Otterbein University. 

Contact Mr. Benson by phone at 614-835-2000 or by email. 

Chris Carmean | Assistant Band Director & Percussion Instructor

Chris Carmean has been an Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor at Pickerington Schools since 2001. He teaches students in grades six through 12 at Pickerington High School North, Lakeview Junior High School, and Harmon and Toll Gate Middle Schools. Mr. Carmean marched with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps, has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, is an Associate Musician with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and performs frequently with the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra. He is a percussion adjudicator for Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Solo and Ensemble and Marching Band Adjudicated Events, serves as Marching Band Adjudications Chair on the OMEA Adjudicated Events Committee, and is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team. His percussion ensemble works are available through C.Alan Publications. Mr. Carmean is married to professional flutist Lindsey Goodman, and together they try to keep up with their alternatively blitzing and napping Bichon Frisé dog, Jack. Mr. Carmean received his Master of Music from Duquesne University and his Bachelor of Music Education from Miami University. Contact Mr. Carmean at 614-835-2000 or email.

Tracie Parulekar | Band Instructor

Mrs. Parulekar is set to begin her twenty-third year of teaching in Pickerington, Ohio. For the first eleven years of her teaching career, Mrs. Parulekar taught instrumental music. Her bands consistently received the highest ratings at contests and festivals. They were also selected to perform at the Ohio Music Education Association State Conference in 2007. This will be her tenth year teaching choral music. Mrs. Parulekar received her Bachelor and Master's degrees in Music Education from The Ohio State University, where her principal instruments were horn and voice. Marc and Tracie have been married nineteen years. Their son, Andrew, was born on July 5, 2006, and their daughter was born on January 9, 2012. They enjoy traveling!

Contact Mrs. Parulekar by phone at 614-835-2000 or by email.

Jordan Koogler | Orchestra Director

Jordan Koogler has been with Pickerington Schools since 2015 as the orchestra director for Harmon and Toll Gate Middle Schools, Lakeview Junior High School, and Pickerington High School North. He was previously the orchestra director for Ashland City Schools in Ashland, Ohio for six years. Mr. Koogler is married to his wife, Amanda, and they have one beautiful little girl named Madalynn.

Mr. Koogler received his Master of Music Education from The Ohio State University and his Bachelor of Music Education from Otterbein University. 

Mr. Koogler may be reached by phone at 614-835-2000 or by email.