Joseph N. Flores

Joseph Flores is the Director of Fine Arts for Teaching and Learning for Las Cruces Public Schools. Mr. Flores earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting from New Mexico State University. Prior to overseeing Fine Arts curriculum and activities for LCPS, he taught middle school and high school band programs in Las Cruces, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas since 1997. During his time in the classroom, Mr. Flores’ ensembles consistently earned superior ratings and were recognized at local, state, and national levels for musical excellence including: multiple state championships in band and symphony orchestra, multiple competition finalist for Bands of America and Winter Guard International regional events, New Mexico Music Educators Association (NMMEA) Honor Jazz Band and Honor Symphony Orchestra, and his music department’s program earned recognition as a Grammy Foundation Signature School. Mr. Flores was nominated for the New Mexico Golden Apple Award in 2016. He was selected as the 2017 NMMEA Music Educator of the Year and then later received the 2019 NMMEA Rollie Heltman Distinguished Service Award. He was recently selected to receive the 2023 Doña Ana Arts Council “Papen Family Award” for demonstrating extraordinary commitment to the arts through service and leadership and was most recently selected as a 2024 NMMEA Hall of Fame inductee. During his tenure as Director of Fine Arts, Las Cruces Public Schools has annually been recognized as one of the Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and was also selected to receive the 2022 and 2025 NMMEA Award of Distinction.

In addition to his work, Mr. Flores remains active as a guest speaker, guest conductor, concert band & marching arts adjudicator and clinician, and he regularly presents professional development sessions at educator conferences regionally and across the country. Mr. Flores has served as President of the NMMEA Southwest District and has also served at the state level as Band Division Vice-President and President for the entire NMMEA organization. Additionally, he is a member and former President of the New Mexico Chapter of the International Band Master’s Fraternity, Phi Beta Mu. In his free time, Mr. Flores enjoys spending quality time with his husband, Daniel, and their dog, family and friends as well as traveling with focus centered on art, history, culture, and culinary experiences.