EARLY – As a December 2024 graduate of Abilene Christian University, Emily Fulton knew she eventually wanted to be a head band director.
She didn’t expect it to happen so soon.
The 23-year-old Fourney native was hired in January 2025 as the Early High School band director following the death of her predecessor, Travis Bryant, at age 64.
During her conference period on a recent morning, Fulton described the journey that took her from Fourney High School, where she played the flute as a band student, to the band director’s job.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher,” Fulton said. “I was really good at helping my friends with their homework, and I really enjoyed watching them spark and things finally click for them.
“And then probably my senior year, I decided I wanted to do band as my form of teaching.”
Fulton went on to attend Abilene Christian University as a music education major.
Fulton was a senior when Bryant — the beloved Early High School band director — died in September 2024. In an online statement announcing Bryant’s death, Early ISD superintendent Joan Otten said, “a cherished member of our staff, he brought immeasurable joy to our students through music and unforgettable performances. Mr. Bryant was not only a passionate advocate for the band program, but also a true mentor and friend to every student.”
Fulton at that time was doing her student teaching in the Stephenville ISD.
“I heard from my friends over there and through the grapevine what happened to Mr. B.,” Fulton said, referring to Bryant. “I had been looking for jobs. Mr. Cabrera, the (Early High School) principal at the time, had reached out to my professors at ACU and asked, ‘do you have anybody graduating that would be a good it?’
“And my professor forwarded it to me, and I thought, maybe this is a sign, because also my friends at Stephenville were encouraging me. They said, ‘you should apply for that job. We think you’d be good.’ And then my professor said, ‘the principal at Early High School reached out and was looking for somebody, and I recommended you. I thought, ‘OK, this is a sign that I need to go for it.’”
Fulton graduated from ACU on a Saturday in mid-December 2024. The following Thursday, she had the job as Early High School band director.
Fulton had never met Bryant, but she knew his stellar reputation, and she knew band students were still reeling from Bryant’s death.
“I just knew of him, because there were many, many people who said he was such a great person, he was such a great band director,” Fulton said. “When I got here, (band students) were still pretty heartbroken.
“Dealing with all the changes they went through, on top of that, with so many people being in front of them, was really hard for them.”
To guide the band through those difficult days, Fulton leaned heavily on Laurel Lacy, who at that time was the Early assistant band director. Like Fulton, Lacy was in her early 20s.
“I think what made it easier was that Laurel was here still here,” Fulton said. “From the get-go, we sat down and we talked about everything together. There wasn’t a decision that was made without each other’s input.
“She obviously knew Mr. Bryant very well. And so I kind of made all of my decisions through her. I was hoping that she would know what things would affect the kids. Will they be really affected if we change this thing? Or what would Mr. B have done? So she was definitely helping that. But I will say the kids welcomed me with open arms. Within a couple of weeks, they were very comfortable with me.”
Referring again to Bryant’s death, Fulton added, “Still, we have days where we’re struggling with that. And I’m completely understanding of it. He was a great man, great band director, and he supported (band students) through a lot.”
Fulton credited several individuals including Early band boosters who “have been so helpful” through her beginning months as band director
Connor Benoist, the Early ISD’s assistant band director, added, “the directors over at Henderson Jr. High in Stephenville have helped us so much, both by being a friend and mentor to her, and by letting us borrow parts. They’ve been just wonderful people.”
Fulton also referred to Henderson Jr. High band director Audrey Lowe, saying, “Audrey is my best friend that I met during my student teaching, and they have helped tremendously through this.”
Fulton said she “definitely” made the right choice in taking the Early job.
“Honestly, I think I needed the kids more than they needed me,” Fulton said.
Fulton explained what she likes best about her job. “The kids,” she said. “They’re in here every day during lunch, or tutorials, or after school, and they’re asking me life questions. Like, ‘what do I need to do in this situation?’ Family, friends … ‘what do I need to do to prepare to be ready for prom?’ Those kinds of questions.”
When asked if she’d expected to be a head band director right out of college, Fulton replied, “No-o. That was kind of the end goal. Somewhere down the road, I thought, one of these days I would love to run my own program, and now I’m doing it.”
