Tom Harrington retired in 2023 as the band director at Cypress Woods High School in the Cypress Fairbanks ISD following a 33-year career as a Texas band director. Prior to Cypress Woods, he taught at Twin Creeks, Dean, and Spillane Middle Schools. Mr. Harrington graduated from Westfield High School, where he performed in bands directed by Mr. Richard Crain and Mr. Philip Geiger. He earned his Music Education degree from the University of Houston, where he was in the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Eddie Green.

​

While at Dean Middle School, he was named Teacher of the Year and then again at Spillane Middle School. In 2012, he was named to the Cypress Fairbanks ISD Wall of Fame. In 2017, he became the band director at Cypress Woods, where the bands advanced to the UIL 6A State Marching Contest in 2020, 2021, and 2022 and were finalists in 2020. In 2021, the Cypress Woods Band was the silver medalist at the BOA North Houston Regional and the winner of the Lone Star Preview Marching Contest. The Wind Ensemble was recognized as a National Winner in the 2021 National Wind Band Honors Competition and was named a TMEA 6A Honor Band State Finalist in 2022. During his six years at Cypress Woods, over 100 students earned the TMEA Area distinction and 40 students earned a chair in one of the TMEA 6A All-State Ensembles.

​

Mr. Harrington has been a member of the Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Educators Association since 1986 and is a member of the Texas Music Adjudicators Association. In 2006, he was named to the Texas Bandmasters Association Board of Directors and served as association president for the 2011–2012 school year. He has served as a TMEA Region and Area Band Division chairman and is a past president of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu.

 

Mr. Harrington and his wife, Shelley, reside in Klein, Texas. They have three children and one grandchild. Amber resides and works in Texas City with her partner, Sal, and baby Millie. Robert is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and is a Lieutenant in the United States Navy’s Third Fleet stationed in San Diego. Their son Adam has a music performance degree from the University of Houston and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Composition from NYU.

 

Shelley and Tom Harrington have been married since 1991. Mrs. Harrington has taught music in the Spring and Klein school districts and is currently a music teacher at Timber Creek Elementary School in Tomball ISD. She also serves as a director of the North Houston Children’s Choir.